The Buzz About the Hive: Helping NB’s Immigrant Entrepreneurs
FREDERICTON – There’s been lots of buzz about the Hive lately.
Not that kind of hive, though we think honey bee extinction is a very important issue.
We’re talking about the government-funded incubator program for New Brunswick’s immigrant entrepreneurs. It’s currently offered in Moncton, Fredericton and will soon be offered in Edmundston and Bathurst.
The Hive was born from the Business Immigrant Mentorship Program, which was created in 2009 and is still offered across the province. The mentorship program offers newcomers workshops like “Canadian Business Principles 101.” Though the program has been successful, it became clear more was needed to retain and integrate the province’s newcomers who want to take their ideas to the next level.
“We were still running the risk of not being able to support them at the level we should be should be doing,” said Janet Moser, who coordinates the Hive program in Fredericton.
The Hive was first piloted in 2013 in Moncton, paid for with extra funds from the Francophone Immigrant Assistance Development Fund. After running for one year, it expanded into Fredericton.
“Instead of seeing our clients for the business mentorship program once or twice a week, we have them with us on a daily basis. They have become key holders to their own office space,” Moser said.
The Hive provides up to eight clients with full administrative support. In order to be accepted into the program, clients must have a registered business or be working with an active business plan. They are given the same training as the regular mentorship clients, along with additional guidance and support for up to 16 months. Basically, the Hive helps accelerate a process that often takes years, especially for new Canadians.
Since launching the Fredericton in May 2014, Hive has helped 12 clients. All 12 have registered businesses or have purchased franchises.
“The success rate and what’s happening through the Hive program is second to none,” Moser said. “The accelerating process for them to feel integrated and get first-hand support is making all the difference.”
The Fredericton program has won international recognition, placing third in the 2015 Chamber Innovation Awards alongside programs in Denver and Boston. In 2014, Moser was asked to speak by the US Consulate to Canada at an immigration business development task force in Dallas, Texas.
“We have really been recognized, not only locally, but nationally and internationally as being leaders in programming we’ve written,” Moser said. “This is content that we didn’t borrow from any other jurisdiction, region, or province. We have been building the path, if you will, to excellence.”
The Hive in Bathurst is expected to be up and running in the coming months. Kim Chamberlain, who will coordinate the program, says Northern New Brunswick has been attracting more people in recent years.
“We’re seeing the numbers, we’re seeing more families moving in the area and some of them are seriously wanting to be entrepreneurs,” Chamberlain said.
“The Hive is the opportunity to have a one-stop-shop to help them with their business plan and even looking around to what they want to create. We didn’t have that in the North.”
Chamberlain said despite popular the stereotype, northern New Brunswick does has opportunity. Whether is be starting a business from scratch or long-established businesses looking for someone to take over.
“For entrepreneurs, or people looking to be entrepreneurs or business owners, they would tend to go more towards south,” Chamberlain said.
“So now we have the opportunity to say ‘you know what? We can offer the same thing.”