THE Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC) has seen a rise in micro and small business start-ups since the advent of COVID-19 here in Fiji.
We would like to thank the Fiji Government and a special recognition goes out to our frontline officers in having contained COVID-19 so far.
This has allowed us to operate our businesses somewhat on a normal basis here in Fiji. YEC is the ninth council under the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) banner and our secretariat is based out of the FCEF Building at 42 Gorrie St, Suva.
We have a group of about 30 registered young entrepreneurs and we would like to extend an invitation out to other young entrepreneurs to join the council.
If you’re under the age of 40 years and have a registered business that you are operating, please feel free to join the council. You can access an online application form through our Facebook page (Young Entrepreneurs Council) by clicking up on the “Sign Up” button or by calling the FCEF office in Suva on landline 3313188 and speaking with Andrea or Fiona.
YEC, as its name suggests is a safe space for young entrepreneurs and in my personal experience after joining YEC in 2018 I have seen the following benefits for me and my business:
- I get to meet and network with other like-minded business owners and operators not only with YEC but with the 10 other councils under the FCEF Banner such as the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC), Retailers Council, Human Resources Council and the Disaster Resilience Council to name a few.
- YEC in itself has provided a safe space to exchange and talk about our issues, hardships and strategies as business owners and has allowed us to also celebrate our victories and little triumphs through this COVID period.
- There are opportunities to attend various workshops and trainings organised by other councils.
- Made representation via FCEF submissions to Government and other organisations on issues that affect young entrepreneurs and ensuring that our voices are heard at policy level. FCEF being the voice of the private sector plays an important role in doing so.
- Applied for funding and technical assistance under the Business Link Pacific Program currently housed with FCEF. There are also numerous opportunities made available to members for funding and technical assistance through Government and donor agencies;
- I have implemented a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for my business given the uncertainties that natural disasters bring like COVID and cyclones so it’s a good thing to start mitigating these impacts as best as you can, this was made possible through the assistance of FCEF;
- Given advice to other budding young entrepreneurs that are wanting to start their own businesses on how to go about their formal business registration at the companies office and other compliance authorities like FRCS and FNPF.
When running your own business, it is important to surround yourself with people that know and understand how to operate a business.
And nobody else understands the kinds of issues that you face as an entrepreneur, like other entrepreneurs would especially during this COVID-19 period.
Common problems can bring together a common understanding towards finding proper holistic solutions.
The Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC) through FCEF provides exactly this for me and my business.
You can access an online application form through our Facebook page (Young Entrepreneurs Council) by clicking up on the “Sign Up” button or by calling the FCEF office in Suva on landline 3313188 and speaking with Andrea or Fiona.
- Watesoni Nata Jr. is the chairman for the Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC). He owns and operates his own homeware retail business out of Walu Bay, Suva called The Merch. The views expressed in this article are his own and not necessarily that of this newspaper.
