This past spring, Western University and Fanshawe secured a $1.45 million contribution from the Ontario Government to develop a new Student Entrepreneurship Centre on each campus with the goal of introducing students to the possibilities of starting and owning their own business.
This new program, which includes a matching financial and in-kind contribution from both Western and Fanshawe, builds upon the success of BizInc, the student-led entrepreneur development initiative that began three years ago through each school’s student council.
Since the announcement, Western University, the University Student Council, Fanshawe College, and the Fanshawe Student Union have been working through a launch plan to help kick start the new program commensurate with the Fall Semester, while ensuring that there is a seamless transition process in place for existing BizInc clients.
To this end, the team behind Western and Fanshawe’s new Student Entrepreneurship Centres is focused on the following tasks.
First, at Western, under the direction of Associate Vice-President Dr. Angie Mandich, Western has named an interim team to lead the new Centre and provide support to existing BizInc clients. The interim Director is Mr. Paul Paolatto, the current Executive Director for Western Research Parks, and Ms. Jordanna Szalkai, an Employer Relationship Developer in Western’s Student Success Centre. Paul and Jordanna will support the Centre and any existing BizInc clients until a new team is hired and in place.
Second, Western has established a staff selection committee that includes representation from USC to recruit a new Director for the program and a three-member support team to augment Western’s existing business development initiatives. The recruitment for this lead position, which began last month, has been very competitive. Western expects to name the new Director in mid-August. Once the Director is in place, the remaining staff members are expected to be selected shortly thereafter.
At Fanshawe College, the recruitment of a Supervisor of Entrepreneurial Services has been completed and an announcement is forthcoming in the next week of the successful candidate. It is anticipated that the Entrepreneurship Centre at Fanshawe College will be reopened no later than August 11, 2014.
Third, Western and USC are looking to locate the new Centre to a new, much larger location to replace the existing BizInc office and accommodate the high interest that is anticipated with this launch of the new program. The new site will be centrally located and easily accessible to students across all faculties and fields of study.
Fanshawe College will continue to use the existing Biz Inc office in Sub 1035. The space will be refurbished and easily accessible to all students. Additionally, Fanshawe will be offering satellite services in our area campuses.
Finally, Western, the USC, and Fanshawe have established a transition plan to ensure that existing BizInc clients continue to receive the support until the new team is in place and the new Centre is opened. These support services include: continued office space access, continued wifi access, and notifications of any program changes, such as summer office hours and any potential changes in location. In addition, Western has secured additional space for prospective clients at Western’s Discovery Park should the demand for office space exceed the current supply.
Western, USC, Fanshawe College the staff recruitment team and the interim client support team are all excited by the prospect of taking the BizInc to the next level while ensuring an effective and efficient transition of its existing clients to the new Student Entrepreneurship Centre.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact:
Jordanna Szalkai
The Student Success Centre: Careers, Leadership and Experience
University Community Centre, Room 210 Western University
(519) 661-2111 x. 82683
entrepreneurship@uwo.ca
Paul Paolatto
Western Research Parks
999 Collip Circle, Suite 101B
(519) 850-2307
ppaolat@uwo.ca
Darlene O’Neill
Career Services, Co-operative Education and Community Employment Services
Room D1063, Fanshawe College
(519) 452-4430 x. 4022
doneill@fanshawec.ca
