First students of Loyalist College’s eight-month post-grad certificate program have graduated
Belleville (Ontario)—June 14, 2016. The Canadian Hybrid Incubator Resource Platform (CHIRP), Canada’s first and only soft landings international incubator for global small-to-medium enterprises and bright start-ups, is proud to announce that the inaugural class of Loyalist College’s Entrepreneurial Studies – Business Launch (ESBL) program, hosted in Strathcona Energy Group’s headquarters at 250 Sidney Street in Belleville, has graduated.
Loyalist’s Entrepreneurial Studies – Business Launch program is a member of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) and is supported by the government of Ontario and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) through an On-Campus Entrepreneurship Activities (OCEA) grant.
Students of Loyalist’s eight-month Ontario College Graduate Certificate program have undergone intense practical and theoretical training at the Canadian Hybrid Incubator Resource Platform (CHIRP) to launch or reposition businesses in a variety of fields. Several graduates have already transitioned into entrepreneurship while they continue to receive support and mentorship from the ESBL program.
“For our first Entrepreneurial Studies — Business Launch cohort, CHIRP provided a professional platform from which to develop and launch new business ideas,” said Dean of the Loyalist College School of Business and International Jim Whiteway. “They will continue to draw on the industry network, knowledge and entrepreneurial skills they learned here to implement their business plans and grow their start-ups.”
CHIRP is Canada’s first and only dedicated soft landings incubator for small to medium sized technology-based businesses from across the world that are entering the North American marketplace. The unique combination of also being an incubator for young entrepreneurs from the Bay of Quinte region has the distinct advantage of cross-pollinating synergies between the clients themselves, and finding new and unusual ways of finding innovative solutions to common start-up challenges. CHIRP clients also have access to a wide range of services and facilities; including state-of-the-art manufacturing space and a well cared for network of finance, government, and legal partners.
“On behalf of the entire company, I’d like to congratulate each of the graduates, celebrating their success with them,” says Karl Hollett, CEO of Strathcona Energy Group, the parent company of CHIRP. “The impact they will have as entrepreneurs on the economic development of the region is going to be phenomenal, and they will always be welcome back to receive support from the incubator in any way possible.”
About the Canadian Hybrid Incubator Resource Platform (CHIRP)
The Canadian Hybrid Incubator Resource Platform (CHIRP) is Canada’s first and only soft landings incubator. Ideally located at the South-eastern tip of Ontario to provide premium access to both the Canadian as well as U.S. marketplace, CHIRP offers clients a ready-made work environment for their transition into the North American economies. CHIRP facilities and services are individually customizable, combining state-of-the-art physical resources with in-depth business assistance and established networking alliances. CHIRP is a subsidiary of Strathcona Energy Group.
About Strathcona Energy Group (SEG)
Founded in 2009, Strathcona Energy Group (SEG) is a highly diversified holding company based in Ontario, Canada that specializes in providing vertically integrated renewable energy solutions with locations in both Canada and the United States. Its current and wholly owned participants include award-winning solar integrator Strathcona Solar Initiatives (SSI) and modules manufacturer Strathcona Energy International (SEI).
About Loyalist College
We put you to work™. When it comes to grads getting jobs, 87.4 percent of the College’s most recent graduates found or created employment within six months of graduation compared to the provincial average of 83.6 percent, according to Provincial Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results released in April 2016. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, Loyalist College is a close-knit community where students and their success come first. Loyalist provides personalized attention in small classes, rewarding field placements and superior student services. To prepare students for in-demand careers, Loyalist offers more than 60 full-time programs; apprenticeships; and hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, as well as opportunities for continuing education through more than 70 university transfer agreements. For more information on the College’s Entrepreneurial Studies – Business Launch program, visit loyalistcollege.com.
Media Contact
Susanne F. Quinn, Head of Corporate Communications
Email: Susanne.Quinn@strathconaenergy.com
Phone: +1 (478) 230-3347