Self Employment Program

The YMCA-YWCA Business Training Centre has been delivering self employment training in Winnipeg since 1987.  During this period the branch has trained over 1,300 people on how to start and operate their own businesses and to date, the vast majority of these businesses are still operational.

Choosing self employment is a major decision for any person, but acquiring training, counselling and financial support certainly increases your chances of success.

The Self Employment Program at the YMCA-YWCA Business Training Centre provides two weeks of full time classroom training, in which you receive all of the information necessary to write a business plan as well as courses to assist you in operating your business. 

The next 10 weeks are comprised of additional elective classes.  The elective classes require a minimal time commitment, which allows you the freedom and flexibility to conduct market research, write your business plan and start your business on a timely basis. 

The electives consist of classes on business as well as personal development.  You register only for the classes of interest to you.

Participants are assigned a counsellor to assist them on the development of their business plan, as well as other counselling needs. All of the trainers and counsellors of the Self Employment Program at the YMCA-YWCA are self-employed business owners and possess diverse experience and expertise.

How do I qualify?

To be eligible, you must be unemployed and currently in receipt of Employment Insurance Benefits or eligible to receive Employment Insurance Benefits.

PLEASE NOTE: To remain eligible for Employment Insurance Benefits, while your application for the Self Employment Program is being considered, you must be able to prove that you are still unemployed and available for work and that you are continuing to make an effort to find work.

You must also:

• Demonstrate that participation in the Self Employment Program is the most appropriate option.
• Have a viable and feasible business concept
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Be able to contribute equity toward the business (either in cash or in kind) in the amount of 25 percent of the total Employment Insurance Benefits/Living Allowance you will receive during the program, up to a maximum of $4,000.
• Have attended an Information/Orientation Session.

You must not:

• Have been funded for skills training within the past two years
• Have been funded by Employment Training Services or Human Resources and Skills Development Canada for the Self Employment Program within the past five years
• Have started your business or be deemed to be self-employed (according to Canada Revenue Agency regulations) prior to being accepted into the Self Employment Program.

Phase I

Training & Business Plan Development

The initial 2-week training curriculum will consist of courses directly related to the development of a business plan.

During the additional 10-weeks of Phase I, various elective courses will be offered, which will assist the participant in the actual operation of the business.

It is mandatory that a participant attends the initial two-week training period and a minimum of five elective classes offered during the following 10 weeks in order to successfully complete Phase I of the Self Employment Program and be eligible to qualify for entrance into Phase II.

In addition to acquiring the required training, each participant must turn-in a completed business plan by the end of week 10 in order to be considered for Phase II of the Self Employment Program.

Phase II

The second phase of the Self Employment Program allows the participants to launch an approved business and operate their venture while continuing to collect Employment Insurance Benefits or a Living Allowance (for a maximum of 39 weeks). To gain access to this phase, the participants must have successfully completed Phase I as outlined previously, and been approved into Phase II by the Director. The following key elements are contained within Phase II.

The participants will receive business counselling from the YMCA-YWCA Business Training Centre (Self Employment Program Coordinator) for 40 weeks. The amount of total assistance given, in terms of hours, will vary from participant to participant dependent upon their individual need. However, monthly contact with the coordinator will be required to remain in the program.

The participants will submit to the coordinator a monthly progress report, a monthly income and expense statement, and a monthly balance sheet. These documents will remain the property of the program and of the Manitoba Advanced Education and Training and through them to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, re the Freedom of Information Act.

The participants must work towards the creation of a sustainable business venture with an objective to replace their Employment Insurance Benefits/Living Allowance. The coordinator is responsible to ensure that this end result is attainable, and that the participant is continually moving towards the realization of this goal.

Contact Us

The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg Business Training Centre is located at 604 - 428 Portage Avenue (approximately one block south of the Downtown Branch). For further information, please call 204 989.5863 or 204 989.5860 or email Teresa Solta at tsolta@ymcaywca.mb.ca.

Useful Resources

The Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre in Winnipeg offers a broad range of services to entrepreneurs. If you need assistance researching your business idea or information on other business resources that are available, visit their office at 250-240 Graham Avenue, or contact them by telephone (204.984.2272 or 1.800.665.2019), or visit them online at http://www.cbsc.org/manitoba