To participate in the Self Employment Program, you are required to meet with an employment counsellor at your local WorkBC Service Centre to find out if you are eligible.

Visit our page on Eligibility Criteria to learn more.

Orientation sessions are held every 10 weeks. You will attend orientation online or in the community closest to you (Nelson, Creston or Nakusp).

Orientation is one day. 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with a one hour lunch break.

During the orientation, you will:

• learn how the Self-Employment program works including more detailed information about the program’s financial supports;
• complete an entrepreneurial self-assessment;
• receive and learn how to complete the Business Concept Application;
• learn how to conduct market research; and,
• receive research tools to help you with your Business Plan.

After the Self-Employment Program orientation, you will have approximately two weeks to complete your Business Concept Application. You will submit this application to be considered for the Self Employment Program.

The Self Employment Committee, made up of volunteer entrepreneurs from the region, will review your Business Concept Application and determine if your business is suitable to move on to the Business Plan Development Phase.

If your Business Concept Application is approved, you will sign formal contracts. The ten week Business Plan Development Phase starts approximately two weeks later.

If eligible, you will receive living supports during the ten week Business Plan Development Phase. You may also be eligible for reimbursement of travel and child care expenses.

Approximately two weeks after contract signing, you will begin the ten-week Business Plan Development Phase.

During this time you will attend one to two workshops per week and work on your business plan.

Note: if needed, there is extra time and support available to individuals who have difficulty completing their business plan in the ten week time frame. 

Business Plan Development Phase workshop topics:

• Market Research
• Managing business operations
• Financial Management: budgeting, cash flow, bookkeeping
• Obtaining financing
• Human Resources
• Sales, Marketing, and Social Media

Self Employment Program staff are also available for one-to-one business counselling and support while you research and develop your business plan.

At the end of the ten-week Business Plan Development Phase*, you will submit your business plan to the Self Employment Program Manager who will go over your complete business plan.

The Executive Summary will be shared with the Self Employment Program Committee. A review will be conducted and if your business is approved, you will move forward to the launch of your business and continuation of the remaining 38 weeks of the Self Employment Program.

*Note: if needed, there is extra time and support available to individuals who have difficulty completing their business plan in the ten-week time frame. 

Once your business plan has been approved, you will launch and run your business. For the remaining 38 weeks of the Self Employment Program, you will (if eligible) continue to receive living supports. 

You will also have funding to take workshops for free in the Community Futures Small Business Training Centre.

Self Employment Program staff are also available for one-to-one business counselling and support.