Engage in a dialogue with small business

Since 2005, there have been 44 Small Business Roundtable consultations, involving 854 small business owners, held throughout the province. These consultations give small business owners a chance to discuss small business issues and opportunities with the roundtable. Since the release of last year’s annual report, consultations have taken place in Surrey, Prince George, Fort St. John, Quesnel, Victoria, White Rock, Vernon, Kelowna, Chilliwack and Kamloops. These consultations inform the recommendations presented in this report. More specific details about the issues raised during these consultations can be found at - www.smallbusinessroundtable.ca.

Provide recommendations to promote small business growth

The Small Business Roundtable board members are drawn from all regions of the province and represent different business sectors. Board meetings are held once a quarter, with ad hoc teleconferences as required. During these meetings, members share information on community initiatives, discuss ways of addressing small business issues and opportunities, and provide advice to government about proposed government strategies and programs.

Periodically, through our regular meetings and dialogue with small business, it becomes apparent that special attention needs to be focused on particular small business topics. As a result, the following subcommittees have been formed, which develop recommendations for consideration by the board as a whole.

1 | Regulatory Reform
Continued focus on regulatory reform has been among the roundtable’s recommendations to government in all five of its annual reports to government. To help in this process, the roundtable established a subcommittee to advise on government’s regulatory reform initiatives. In addition, regulatory reform has been included as a key agenda item for small business consultations.

2 | Small business promotion and outreach
Established in 2008, this subcommittee develops strategies for providing timely information to a wider audience about the continued strength of British Columbia’s small business sector.

3 | Development of the roundtable’s annual report to government
Since the roundtable’s inception in 2005, an annual report has been produced that provides highlights of the board’s activities and presents recommendations to government and to the small business sector. The intent underlying the recommendations is that they contribute to the growth and success of small business as well as to development of government’s strategy to enhance the small business environment in British Columbia.

Champion small business interests in the province

A strong small business sector supports vital economic growth and a supportive social fabric, with tangible benefits to all members of a community. With this in mind, the roundtable board supports the following organizations and programs that invest in fostering entrepreneurial ambitions and increasing the health of the small business sector throughout the province.

1 | Junior Achievement BC
Introducing youth to business and entrepreneurship
Junior Achievement BC has been helping schools create the kind of workforce that companies want to hire by offering business and entrepreneurial educational programs in elementary, middle and high schools with the support of business volunteers from the local community.

Since 2006, the provincial government has provided the funding to expand and enrich program delivery to all 60 school districts, with particular focus on regional schools. The roundtable has taken an active role in supporting this partnership. Representing the roundtable, Linda Larson, Vice-chair, sits on Junior Achievement’s board of directors to further strengthen the organization’s ties to the small business community.

2 | Small Business BC
Strengthening small business through training and resources
The small business sector in B.C. is a diverse community with a wide range of needs. To address some of these needs, Small Business BC provides products and services accessible by small businesses in all the regions of the province. Small Business BC is a not-for profit organization jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments.

Since 2006, Small Business BC and its various partners have delivered over 1,000 video conference seminars and workshops to more than 13,000 seminar registrants. Small business owners throughout B.C. have taken part in a variety of seminars ranging from start up to succession planning.

A roundtable member sits on the Small Business BC’s governance board.

3 | Small Business Month
Recognizing and promoting small business success in B.C.
Since 2007, British Columbia has dedicated the entire month of October to promoting and fostering recognition of small business’s contribution to the province. Small Business Month activities take place throughout the province. These events celebrate entrepreneurship, women in business, youth in business, innovation, technology, and small business exporters – to name a few. 2009 marked the 30th year small business’s contribution to the economy has been celebrated.

4 | Aboriginal small business and entrepreneurial development
The Aboriginal business community has a vital role to play in keeping our economy strong for the future. In B.C., the percentage of Aboriginal entrepreneurs under 25 is twice that of non-Aboriginal entrepreneurs (seven per cent vs. three per cent). To facilitate sustainable business development for Aboriginal groups who live both on and off reserve, efforts have been made by governments and service organizations to provide programs and training for the start-up and growth of a small business.

In July 2010, the Small Business Roundtable held its second Aboriginal-focused meeting in Kamloops to determine how to best champion the voice of these emerging and essential small businesses. The meeting was attended by nearly 60 people, including a range of Aboriginal leaders and small business operators. The meeting focused on the effectiveness and expansion of existing training programs, as well as brainstorming new ways to support and promote the entrepreneurial endeavours of Aboriginals.

5 | 2010 Olympic and Paralympic business hosting program
Leveraging new economic opportunities
During the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games, the B.C. government fully leveraged world attention on economic opportunities in the province. Through the Business Hosting Program, B.C.’s competitive advantages were showcased to hundreds of top business leaders and government dignitaries. Over the course of the Games, the hosting program included 113 events, including business networking events, high-level government-to-business networking sessions, daily business seminars and events highlighting our regions. About 15,000 participants and 1,000 companies attended these events.⁴

The long-term economic pay-off of the efforts made during the Games will only be fully realized over time. However, it is clear the business hosting program and the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games intensified international awareness of British Columbia and highlighted the strong investment and business opportunities available – from clean energy to digital media.

Xomo Digital, featured to the right of this page, is just one example of a small business that has capitalized on the increased international awareness the Games have brought to the province.

⁴For more details on the outcomes of the business hosting program, see the following report: http://www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca/DisplayEventDetails.aspx?eventId=494.