A handful of small business owners are getting free consultations from University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) business students.

Atlantic Supply Ltd, Chatterbox, Kelly Holding Ltd, Swim & Trim Ltd and Ted Green Fragrances are taking part in the Student Consulting Programme, a joint initiative between UCCI and the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI). Cayman National Bank is sponsoring the programme, in order to cover expenses incurred by the students as part of their consultancy.

DCI Business Services Officer Thais Ducent said the initiative has been successful.

‘This partnership between the public and private sector, and the resulting investment of resources, is a key factor in bringing about this programme’, Mrs Ducent said. ‘Now in its seventh year, we are continuing to build on this success and students’ entrepreneurial development. We are proud to boost the local small business community through this programme’.

For 2015, the participating entrepreneurs are Clive Bodden (Atlantic Supply managing director), Roz Griffiths (Chatterbox manager), Rhonda Kelly (Kelly Holding CEO), Farron Bennett (Swim and Trim owner) and Tedrick Green (Ted Green Fragrances owner).

The 10-week programme matches each business owner with a team of students who are enrolled in UCCI’s upper-level Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management course. The teams are guided in their consultancy by UCCI senior lecturer, Ms. Annette Murphy.

Each business has a particular need in areas such as marketing, business management and accounting. As the consulting projects are part of their course grades, students will be assessed by DCI and UCCI programme facilitators on the quality of their consultative advice.

For more information, contact Thais Ducent on [email protected] or 244-2278.

Credit to Matthew Yates, Ministry of Financial Services.

Photo Caption: A number of businesses and students are taking part in the programme.