If you are over 19 years of age and have no formal post-secondary education, you could be eligible to receive up to $1500 in funding for business training.
The Micro-Business Training Program (MBT Program)
The MBT Program provides funding for training programs to help you improve your general business skills such as marketing, bookkeeping, operations and other areas.
The pilot program, funded through the BC/Canada Labour Market Agreement (LMA), runs until March 31, 2014. The program is looking to help a minimum of 1,200 participants. Funding support is available to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis.
Are you Eligible?
Approval for the program is dependent on whether the business owner has less than five employees and has no university of post-secondary education or credits. Additional criteria include:
- A resident of British Columbia
- Legally entitled to work in Canada
- 19 years of age or older
- Not a full-time post-secondary student
- Not a high-school student
- Not participating in another LMA funded program
How to Apply
To apply to be part of the MBT Program you must first complete an online application.
After you have submitted the form, a member of the customer service team will review your application and contact you with the next steps. Last applications will be accepted December 31, 2013, dependent on funding availability.
What Training is Included?
Training will be provided online, in the classroom and/or one-on-one. It will be made available through various universities, colleges, PCTIA accredited institutions and Private Trainers throughout British Columbia. Including your very own Small Business BC.
Examples of courses included in the MBT Program include:
- Leadership/Management training
- Marketing and Sales
- Social Media
- Computer Skills (e.g. Word, Excel, Simply Accounting, Photoshop etc.)
- Bookkeeping
Training not included in this program is training such as:
- Industry specific training
- Workplace Health, Safety or other mandatory training
- Training funded through another source and otherwise free to the Participant (e.g. adult basic education)