Ensuring the health of Canadian businesses
generally, and businesses in our region specifically,
is a core Georgian value, and the pressure is higher
in this area than it has been in some time.
One in five small-to-medium-sized businesses are
set to change hands over the next five years
because of retirement,
26
including 60% of family-
owned businesses.
27
This translates into $2 trillion
of business assets under new management within
the next decade.
28
Further Faster, a Georgian
program, offered through the Henry Bernick
Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC) mitigates this
transfer. It's a seven-week business training
program for entrepreneurs starting a new business,
considering a pivot or growing an existing business.
Beyond this, HBEC provides significant
economic and business development support
to our region, having secured $4 million in
investments for client businesses that
generated $19+ million in revenue and
created 640 jobs.
Serving 300+ clients annually, HBEC provides
in-depth business planning workshops and
entrepreneurial experiences, connections such
as patent, copyright, and trademark advice,
and access to angel investors and mentorship
from successful entrepreneurs.
The centre and its partners have received several
City of Barrie Mayor's Innovation Awards in
recognition of their work and impact.
Fostering
entrepreneurship
20%
small-to-medium-sized businesses are
set to change hands over the next 5 years.
06 / INNOVATION
24 GeorgianCollege.ca
