Presentation part of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation's 2017 conference "Different by Design." Abstract: The internet has significantly changed the way work, education, and funding operate. Examples include opportunities for online distance work, crowdsourcing/crowdfunding, e-commerce, peer-to-peer networks, and online learning opportunities. To succeed in these new ventures, individuals can benefit from building skills in business, research and entrepreneurship, updated to focus on new trends in the workforce. Skills such as identifying a market, budgeting, promotion, or writing a business plan support workers, whether their business is online or in their communities. Online learning opportunities can especially benefit rural communities, which may not be able to support traditional in-person delivery of training, such as diploma or certificate programs, apprenticeships, or mentor networks. This session will focus primarily on the Small Business Accelerator as a channel for the information and training needed to build capacity and adapt to a changing economy. The SBA is an open resource, delivered online and aimed at small & medium enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs, and business owners in British Columbia. It provides instruction on business research skills, step by step guides for various industries, as well as a directory of small business support. It offers free online access to reliable business information and tools for secondary market research for BC businesses and entrepreneurs. Our goal is to promote BC business and communities as well as facilitate partnerships and collaborations.

1. Build Your Skills for Tomorrow’s
Small Businesses
Adena Brons
Community Engagement Librarian - Business Services
University of British Columbia

2. Information Matters
• Getting good, reliable
information is important
• Access to the internet has
significantly changed the
way work, education and
funding can operate
– Crowdfunding
– Online learning
– E-commerce

3. Rural Entrepreneurship
• Rural and small town places
have higher than average
number of SME’s per capita
• Rural and small town
entrepreneurs are committed
to their region, often also
sitting on community boards
or joining a chamber of
commerce

4. Information for Small Businesses
• Small business owners
and entrepreneurs can
benefit from information
about:
– Writing a business plans
– Funding opportunities
– Customer research
– Trends in the workforce
– Marketing and promotion

5. Secondary Market Research
What will
SMR do
for me?
Helps
define the
problem
Credibility
New skill
for your
‘toolkit’
Saves
money
Saves time
Focus
primary
research

6. The Small Business Accelerator
The Small Business Accelerator is
committed to making it easier for BC
entrepreneurs to succeed by
providing free access to high quality,
online, secondary market research
and business information

7. Activities
• Maintain collection of industry-specific business
accelerator guides
• Provide tutorials and support for growing
research skills
• Maintain directory of business support and
service providers
• Increase access to library licensed resources,
such as Gale Business Plan handbook

8. Industry Guides

9. Market Research Video Tutorials

10. Market Research Video Tutorials

11. Works Cited
 Markey, S., Halseth, G., & Manson, D.
(2012). Investing in Place: Economic
Renewal in Northern British
Columbia. Vancouver: UBCPress.
 Siemens, L. (2015). “We moved here
for the lifestyle”: A picture of
entrepreneurship in rural British
Columbia.” Journal of Small Business
& Entrepreneurship, 27(2), 121-142.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08276331.20
14.965474

12. Stay in touch with SBA:
Follow us on Twitter: @sba_bc
Explore online: sba.ubc.ca
Connect by email: lib.sba@ubc.ca
Thank you!