CENTRESPREAD JBDC EXPANDS ITS REACH THROUGH VIRTUAL EVENTS by Sancia Campbell
O
n March 10, 2020, Jamaica joined the rest of the world in what now seems like an unending cycle of lockdowns and restricted movements. These actions were as a direct result of the arrival of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Jamaican shores. The onset of the virus also meant that life as we knew it was about to undergo drastic changes. As the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is mandated to drive the sustainable development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Corporation almost immediately got to work to identify new ways to support our clients in what was shaping up to be a year of uncertainty and fundamental shifts in how business would be conducted in the future.
Media and Communications Consultant, Fae Ellington, showsoff her ‘bankra’-inspired bag as she hosted the launch of the National Craft Policy in June 2020 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. In the background was then, State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green and Marketing Services Manager at JBDC, Janine Taylor.
Internally, we grappled with our own disappointments, which included the cancellation of our biggest event, the Small Business Expo & Conference, which is staged annually in May. However, the word of the day was ‘pivot’ and that we did! JBDC is well-known for its prowess in engaging the ecosystem through innovative and ground-breaking events, so following the initial shock, we set about brainstorming a rapid response.
8
Kaysia Johnson-Vaughan, Senior Manager, Scotiabank Jamaica/sponsor representative, delivers greetings while the stage is shared by (from left to right) Suzette Campbell - Corporate Communications Manager, JBDC, Valerie Veira - Chief Executive Officer, JBDC and State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce - Hon. Dr. Norman Dunn at the Virtual Employee Engagement Seminar series in Kingston.
T
he first step was to prepare Team JBDC to tackle the ‘new normal’. This meant identifying new ways to connect with the client group and preparing our team to deliver interventions outside of the face-to-face norm. It was no easy feat, as Murphy’s Law enjoys the virtual space. Teething pains were aplenty for us as well as the presenters and audience, who were also learning by doing.
virtual events were staged at the same time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays via the Zoom platform which had grown immensely popular since the pandemic.
T
he JBDC Virtual Biz Zone is a webinar series with a three-pronged focus; entrepreneur capacity building, capitalising on current opportunities and sensitising the client group as to how businesses will operate in the ‘new normal’. Since April 2020, the JBDC has conducted well over 100 webinars on focus areas including e-commerce, general marketing, business transformation & digitisation, statutory obligations, the importance of customer data, the online business registration process and using research techniques for business growth.
A full engagement with digital technologies was undertaken. In a matter of weeks, training was conducted to build the digital capacity of a select group of team members who would soon become the voices and faces of the corporation. Simultaneously, programmes were developed to engage our target audience in a series of discussions and conversations that would relieve the uncertainty surrounding the ‘how’ of business in This Virtual Biz Zone webinar series has the ‘new normal’, as well as prepare the also facilitated skill building through practical sessions in Leather, Wire & clients for what was to come. Fabric Craft, Catering and the importance Three new programmes were introduced; of Food labels, Mask Making and the JBDC Virtual Biz Zone, the JBDC ‘In Fashion and Product opportunities. Concert’ series and the JBDC Virtual Gift More technical topics such as Queue & Craft Biz Zone. The Entrepreneur’s Management and Reducing Wait time, Journey which is not a new initiative, was which is crucial for both the business and also adapted into the virtual space. All
BUSINESS IN THE NEW NORMAL
JANUARY – MARCH 2021
