Page 46 - IB April 2023

SPBD SPBD

SPBD MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN

SME PREPARATION WORKSHOP

SPBD Fiji recently held a series of one-day SME Preparation were very experienced. In Lautoka, Mr. Aisake Radu was
Workshops Fijiwide. The workshop was held in Savusavu the coach who has over 30 years of experience in business
on 24 March 2023 for its Vanua Levu members for branches management and development banking experience. Mr. Josese
in Labasa, Savusavu and Taveuni. On 31 March, another Visako was the coach for the workshop in the north with 30
workshop was held in Suva for branches in Suva and Levuka years’ experience in business operations/management and
while the third workshop was held in Lautoka for branches in development banking. Mr. Maika Saladromo, a Fiji Rugby Union
Rakiraki, Lautoka and Sigatoka on 5 April. Certified Referee/Coach and a former high school teacher was
The training is tailor-made for SPBD members who are also the coach for the northern branches. In Suva, Mr. Apiame
earmarked for SME loans and those already on SME loan Cegumalua (entrepreneur and food technologist) was the
threshold. The workshop is designed for SPBD members who coach.
are looking to take their micro-business to the next level The SME Preparation Programme included a pre- and post-
and grow into a small business to be funded by SPBD’s SME training coaching session. The pre-training coaching session
Loan Programme. The objective of the workshop is to equip was conducted a few days before the scheduled training dates
the members with the knowledge and tools to upgrade their as the coaches and SPBD members met to discuss the overall
businesses, increase their revenue, as well as build a solid business operations and to complete the Business Diagnostic
foundation for future growth. Members who complete the Chart (BDC) and Personal Entrepreneurial Competency
workshop are also eligible to apply for the SPBD Fiji Bloom Diagnostic (PECD). These diagnostic exercises provided the
Accelerator programme. members and the coaches with a snapshot of the health of
More specifically, the objectives of the workshop are to:- the business and the entrepreneurial competency of the
• Understand the difference between a micro-business members. This baseline scenario provides a platform for the
and a small business enhancement and expansion of the business. The next step is
• Develop a growth strategy and action plan to build on the baseline scenario to assist members develop
• Discover marketing techniques to expand customer appropriate strategies and best practices to bridge any gaps,
base as well as equip members for the SME ecosystem.
• Explore best practices to manage and grow a small Mr. Fisher and his team of coaches delivered the workshops
business in a simplified manner to enhance the members’ learning
• Learn about simple financial projections for a small without diluting the underlying business concepts and
business principles. In particular:-
• Learn how to apply for a loan from SPBD Microfinance • The training was designed for adult learning with
Financial Management Counsellors Alliance of Fiji (FMCAF) simplified tools
conducted the workshop with trainer, Mr. Lagi Fisher and • Delivery was in both vernacular (i-taukei and English)
his team of coaches. The coaches were professionals who for clarity

Members who attended the workshop in the north Members from the north presenting their case study

A group presentation from our western members Members from Sigatoka, Lautoka and Rakiraki at the workshop

46 Islands Business, April 2023
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