UWI creating marketplace for student offerings

A MARKETPLACE is being developed at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus to help provide entrepreneurs there with a structured avenue through which to offer their products and services.
This was disclosed by campus coordinator of graduate studies and research Eddy Ventose. He was speaking during the award ceremony of the CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Student Entrepreneurial Empowerment Development (SEED) programme’s Business Plan Competition. It was held at the pavilion of the 3Ws Oval at the campus last Wednesday.
“The Cave Hill Campus is an immense market comprising students, faculty [and] administrative staff with purchasing power who also provide various goods and services,” said Ventose.
“A marketplace is being conceptualized where goods and services will be available on the Cave Hill Campus and will be showcased and offered in a trade show context.
“There are enough graduates to compile a directory containing the contact details and relevant industries with a view to expanding their networks and creating commercial opportunities,” he added.
He later told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY he could not give details because the plan was in the initial stages of identifying the people and the available goods and services, but said so far students were already showing a lot of interest.
Ventose also noted that the SEED programme was being expanded “to address entrepreneurial opportunities in specific sectors of relevance to the Caribbean region and mentoring and coaching are also being formalized”. (MM)