The three-day seminar held at the St Michel Complex, Anse Aux Pins, included basic accounting, the proper psychology needed to succeed, as well as finance management.

The business owners also learned the different funding agencies that are available to them, such as local commercial banks, the Youth Enterprise Scheme and the African Development Bank funds for those in fisheries and agriculture.

The group who followed the ‘A-Z in Doing Business’ training included people in the tailoring and handicraft businesses as well as shop owners. They were mainly women.

According to consultant Peter Roselie, those who took part have been taught basic business skills including the right frame of mind needed to succeed as many small entrepreneurs here have failed in the past.

He has also taught them some of the aspects that could lead to their businesses not growing or failing – such as competition from others in the same field, hiring the wrong employees or getting the wrong partners, as well as falling into the high-flying lifestyle trap.

Now that they have all the skills needed to run profitable and successful ventures, Mr Roselie said he has personally mentored the business owners on a voluntary basis to help them avoid basic mistakes beginners tend to make.

At the end of the training session, the business owners received certificates from Senpa.