Twelve social enterprises are about to receive another tranche of support from the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI), through the Accelerator Programme.
Opal Whyte, project manager of SEBI, said the 12 social enterprises are bringing innovation to a range of sectors from marketing, waste management, eco-tourism and education and will be exposed to capacity building, improved governance, leadership, mentorship, business linkages and partnerships.
“This is an exciting phase in which we intend to prepare them to become more efficient and responsive leaders resulting in baseline revenue growth of at least 40 per cent and greater social impact,” said Ms. Whyte.
She explained that the Accelerator Phase will build on the lessons learned in the incubator programme and focus heavily on long term sustainability of their businesses.
“SEBI’s objective in this phase is to assist the social enterprises in thinking more strategically and setting bigger goals and targets. The tools provided in the Accelerator Programme will enable them to ‘think big’, build partnerships and create networks and take the participants well beyond the $88 million generated in revenue by SEBI’s phase two incubator members,” she informed.
The Accelerator Phase commenced on Friday, March 23 with the “SEBI Power Up! Series  at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. Presentations were delivered on leadership development, personal effectiveness and leveraging social networks.
Don Anderson, chief executive officer of Market Research Services who already conducted seminal research into Jamaica’s social enterprise sector, shared with the participants that “The Next Great Leader Has Already Been Born” and may very well be sitting amongst them.
Mr. Anderson shared from his life experience, his entre into market research; political polling and sports leadership; provided tools and strategies on navigating an emerging sector and creating a viable niche.
The participants in the programme were selected following a call for applications in February, and they included: Livewire Act, Avant Academy of Music, Eco-Farms, Inzzpire JA, Bresheh and UCA Marketing. They join SEBI social enterprises: Deaf Can! Coffee, 360 Recycle, Bunkers Hill Cultural Xperience, Link Your Purpose, EducaTours JA and Bartley’s All In Wood.
The Social Enterprise Boost Initiative seeks to address social and environmental challenges in Jamaica through enterprise development. It is a joint JN Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development project.

Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications