Business Works

Self-Employment Program

ETHOS Career Management Group delivers the "Business Works" Self-Employment Program for the Central Vancouver Island Service Delivery Area between the Malahat and Bowser.

• What is the Self-Employment Program?
• Where is it available?
• Who is eligible?
• How can I become enrolled in the program?
• When can I start?

What is the Business Works Self-Employment Program?

If you are unemployed and interested in starting a business, you may be eligible to receive training, support, and financial assistance. We will teach you how to write a business plan and coach you through using that business plan to set reachable goals and to acquire further financing, if necessary. You will also benefit from the expertise of a business coach and the experience of a successful business member of the community as a mentor.

Where is it available?

ETHOS is delivering the Business Works Self-Employment Program to the region between the Malahat and Bowser. This area includes the following communities:

• Bowser
• Cedar
• Chemainus
• Cobble Hill
• Duncan
• Errington
• Gabriola Island
• Ladysmith
• Lake Cowichan
• Mill Bay
• Nanaimo
• Parksville
• Qualicum
• Shawnigan Lake

Who is eligible?

• Eligible participants are those who are unemployed individuals at the time of applying for the Self-Employment Program.
• Individuals will be considered unemployed and eligible for participation if they:
  1. have established an unemployment benefit period or whose unemployment benefit has ended within the 36 months prior to the date of requesting assistance; or
  2. for whom a benefit period that included a maternity or parental claim has been established within the 60 months prior to the date of requesting assistance, after which the individual remained out of the labour market in order to care for a newborn or newly adopted child and is now seeking to re-enter the labour force.
  3. 1. are working less than an average of 20 hours per week; and
     2. are actively seeking full-time employment or in the case of persons with disabilities who are unable to work full-time, are actively seeking increased employment, or
  4. are in receipt of a notice of imminent lay-off, or
  5. must leave their current occupation due to medical reasons.
• to find out if you are eligible, please contact your local Service Canada office.
• Other criteria may apply.

How can I become enrolled in the program?

Contact your local Employment Resource Centre. A list can be found at
HRCC Greater Vancouver Island - Local Employment Services

When can I start?

Orientations are held five times per month in various locations. Please contact us to register to attend an orientation session.

All participants to the program must be referred by an Employment Counsellor at a local Employment Resource Centre.

For further information, please contact us at one of our three Service Delivery Locations:

Nanaimo:
(250) 741-1527
204-155 Skinner Street
Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5E8

Duncan:
(250) 748-9880
301-80 Station Street
Duncan, BC, V9L 1M4

Parksville:
(250) 586-2977
Office #1, 202-160 Corfield Street
Parksville, BC, V9P 2G3