  |
 |
|
|
 |
|
Beyond Borders...Your Passport to Exporting
The Business
Link's Export Link hosted its first and very
successful conference, bringing together over 100 Alberta
businesses and service providers to Edmonton to learn
about exporting basics to key issues facing exporters
in today's international marketplace.
Delegates gained practical knowledge and advice from successful exporters and experts in the field to help improve their export initiatives.
The comments received were overwhelmingly positive and we look forward to possibly holding the event again next year!
We would like to thank everyone who participated in
the event and helped make it a success. If you have
any questions relating to exporting your product or
service, call our Export Link at 1-888-811-1119 or visit
www.exportlink.ca.
|
|
|
New Platform
for our Website
Websites for the CBSC network across the country, including
The Business Link, have been
undergoing a series of changes to move them to a new content
management system. As we make the transition to the new
platform, there may be some technical difficulties experienced
when accessing our website.
We ask for your patience and continued support as we go
through this Internet upgrade.
|
|
Minimum Wage Increase for Alberta
On September 1st, 2005 Alberta's minimum wage will rise
from $5.90 to $7.00 an hour. This increase of $1.10
will assist workers in entry-level positions.
Adjustments to the Employment Standards Code of Alberta
will be made to reflect the new minimum wage pay regulations.
The Alberta government officially announced the minimum
wage increase on April 25, 2005 to allow time for employers
to budget adjustments into previous pay scales. The
last official minimum wage increase in Alberta was approximately
6 years ago.For more information, visit the website
of Alberta Human Resources and Employment.
|
|
|
|
The Business Link received the
QCA's Quality and Excellence Advocate Award
The Quality Council of Alberta presented
A.D. Williams Engineering Inc. and The Business
Link with the “Quality and Excellence Advocate
Awards” at a recent ceremony that was held in Edmonton.
In presenting the award to The Business Link,
Chris Tsaros, President of the Quality Council of Alberta,
acknowledged the long-term support that the organization
has provided to the Council and its efforts to increase
the awareness and adoption of quality processes by the
Alberta business community.
Rodger Cole, in accepting the award on behalf of The
Business Link reiterated our commitment to continue
to advocate on behalf of the Quality Council for the
training and associated service that they provide. He
further emphasized that The Business
Link will continue to “host in our Library”
the QCA’s video collection for the use for the uses
of businesses and others in Alberta.
|
|
|
Alberta Learning and Information Service has Launched a New Book for Employers - Skills by Design: Strategies for employee development
Taking the time to read this book is an investment in your company's future. Skills by Design is a toolbox for employers looking to sharpen the skills for their workforce. The publication builds the case that any business, no matter how small, should have the tools and know-how to do regular inspections, maintenance and enhancement of employee skills. It features the why to, how to and practical what to do of employee skills development.
Go here to download the guide or order printed copies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Talk to Us!
Need assistance in finding information
on our web site? Check out our web/voice support service,
"Talk to Us".
|
|
|
Send to
a Friend
Please feel free to forward E-News!
from The Business Link
to a friend or colleague. They can subscribe
on-line on our web site.
|
|
|
Cliquez ici
pour accéder, ou vous abonner à ce bulletin
électronique en français.
|
|
|
Your Feedback is Important to us
Your feedback is welcome at any time to help us improve and enhance our services for Alberta entrepreneurs. Simply use the "Feedback" function located on the toolbar at the top of E-News! to send us your views.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Welcome to the 37th issue of E-News! from The
Business Link. The June 2005 issue marks the
3rd anniversary of E-News!
Our subscription list
continues to grow, now going out to more than 4166 entrepreneurs, business service providers and government representatives around Alberta. E-News! is an excellent
way to keep up to date on upcoming events and new services offered by The Business
Link.
We would like to take this time to thank all of our readers and content contributors
for continuing to support E-News! and The Business Link over the past few years. Whether
this is your first time receiving E-News!, or you've been with us for the past 3
years, we hope you will enjoy this quick monthly e-newsletter.
|
 |
The Business Link's Spring Season has Come
to a Close
The spring season of Seminars and Brown Baggers has
ended and The Business Link would like
to thank all the people who participated and made this
past season a success.
Keep checking E-News! for information
on extra events that will be offered from time to time,
many via video conferencing.
National Award for Small Business Skills Development
Successful small businesses understand that they must
develop the skills of their employees to succeed in
a competitive environment, and to provide the right
solutions for the business to grow and prosper.
Recognizing the need to showcase these solutions and
best practices, The Conference Board of Canada, in partnership
with the RBC Financial Group, has launched the National
Award for Small Business Skills Development.
The national award winner will be a small business that
helps its employees develop the skills that will enable
them to contribute to the success and growth of the
small business in which they work.
Winners Receive a $5,000 Cash Prize . . .
In addition to:
• national and local publicity
• paid travel and accommodation to the 2005 Workplace
Education and Learning Conference in Toronto, December
1–2, 2005
• recognition as a best practice in the Business and
Education IdeaBook
Who Should Apply?
• any small business with fewer than 100 employees and
a demonstrated success in developing and enhancing employee
skills
• any small business that has demonstrated effective
practices in employee learning and skills development
For details on how to enter, contact Linda Scott at
1-888-801-8818 Ext. 277 (e-mail scott@conferenceboard.ca)
or visit: www.conferenceboard.ca/education/awards/skills-rbc
Competition deadline is June 22, 2005.
Networking Opportunities at The Business Link
- Grow Your Circle of Contacts
Do you need to widen your business contacts? Then join
us at The Business Link for an opportunity
to Network! It is free and no registration is needed.
Be prepared to exchange business cards and gain valuable
contacts!
Join us on Wednesday, June 22, 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
|
Cost:
|
Free
*No membership required*
|
| Where: |
The Business Link
100 - 10237 104 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
|
For more information, contact Lisa Iwanyk by phone at
780-422-7738, 1-800-272-9675 or by e-mail
at iwanyk.lisa@cbsc.ic.gc.ca.
Edmonton trade show to promote Alberta's rural businesses
Prairie Finds: Alberta Shows Off is a 10-day “made-in-Alberta”
trade show to be held July 21 – 30 where products, services,
artisans, performers and tourism destinations from rural
Alberta will be promoted to consumers in large urban markets.
The show will include intriguing theme areas under a main
street façade. Plans include a general store, art district,
restaurant, Alberta hall of fame, cooking stage and competition,
travel agency, entertainers and much more.
Businesses from anywhere outside of the cities
of Edmonton and Calgary can choose to offer their products
or promote their tourism destinations at traditional display
booths at the Prairie Finds show. In addition, since some
businesses may not be able to attend in-person, the organizers
will be managing a “general store” featuring Alberta-made
items. Producers of these products do not need to attend
in-person... just send the products for consignment sales.
Special arrangements can also be made within the “travel
agency” for tourism operators who cannot attend in person.
Space at the show is limited, so interested exhibitors
should contact Rural Connections as soon as possible.
For more information, visit prairiefinds.com or contact
Shelly Witiuk at 780-455-9101 (Edmonton area) or 1-877-455-9100
(toll-free).
|
|
Quality Council of Alberta Brown Bag Sessions
The Quality Council of Alberta (QCA) invites you to
attend their Brown Bag Sessions at The Business
Link in Edmonton and in Calgary at Bantrel Company
#700 6th Avenue S.W. This year's theme is "Following
the Roadmap to Excellence". The QCA is offering
a number of sessions, presented by noted Knowledge Management
professionals, on using Knowledge Management to achieve
organizational excellence. The sessions are free to
members of the Quality Council of Alberta and are $10
for non-members.
A session on "Excellence for Small Business and
Tourism" will be held in Calgary on Thursday, June
16 and at The Business Link in Edmonton
on Friday, June 17. The sessions are held from 12:00
noon to 1:00 p.m. Seating is limited and allocatd on
a first come-first
serve basis.
For more information and to register for these sessions,
contact Ann Beaque at the Quality Council of Alberta
at 780-423-6878, 1-800-224-0848 or by e-mail at abeaque@shaw.ca.
|
 |
|
Orientation of Employees
From the Strategis website
Numerous studies have shown that employees who receive
a thorough and proper orientation that allows them to
experience success early on in their careers are far
more likely to remain with the company two years down
the road. Orientation is training that works because
it reaches the employee before any other (possibly negative)
influences. It is your first and best opportunity to
explain the requirements of the job and what it takes
to be successful.
The orientation starts during the interview process.
Candidates must be told which attitudes and values are
accepted, and which ones are not. They need to understand
which behaviours are rewarded, and which ones are not
acceptable. They need to hear how their performance
will be measured. Most importantly, they need to understand
how important the customer is in everything the company
does at every level.
You should create an initial training plan, called an
"Orientation", that must be completed by every new employee
upon hiring. Basics such as company background, market
position and future goals should be reviewed. The organizational
structure and processes, existing personnel and other
relevant information must be introduced.
Initial job training should also be covered. For some
retailers, the orientation process will take two weeks,
while for others it may take several months.
The key to any successful orientation program is to
ensure that the necessary time and effort are invested
in its planning and implementation. Creating something
as simple as a checklist of topics to be covered, then
delivering it on a consistent and reliable basis, will
often do the job. Try to get management and line employees
involved in the process of delivering the program.
To access more information on human resources, visit
The Human Resources Management website here.
|
|
 |
Access to Justice
www.acjnet.org
Access to Justice www.acjnet.org
provides links to legal information of all types for all
regions of Canada. To find business information, Use the
"Select a Keyword" box to choose "Business" and under
"All Jurisdictions" select "Alberta" then click the "Search"
button to come up with many links to legal information
for businesses in Alberta. These include information from
Alberta Justice, The Business Link, Alberta
First, as well as Canada Revenue Agency and other applicable
federal law sources. The "Special Topics" section has
items on Identity Theft, Privacy Issues and the Landlord
and Tenant Act. These many documents can help you find
the information you need when exploring the legal aspect
of your business or business plan. |
|
 |
The Business Link works in partnership with 30 Regional Access Sites located throughout the province, plus the Calgary Business Information Centre (CBIC), to provide information and resources to Alberta entrepreneurs. To find the closest Regional Access Site in your area, visit our web site at: http://www.cbsc.org/alberta/tbl.cfm?fn=regional.
All the Regional Access Sites around the province offer a wide range of services designed specifically to meet the needs of new entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses in their area. The services can include financing, a wide range of resources to help small business people and many training programs and seminars.
The West Central Community Futures Development Corporation
will be offering Kids Invent Toys! Summer Camp Program.
By attending this camp your children will invent their
own toys and learn about science, creativity and entrepreneurship,
invention process, working as a team and life long learning
and creativity skills. The sessions start in July
so check the next issue of E-News! for
more details, or contact Joan at 1-888-848-2285
for more information.
|
|
|
The
Business Link Business
Service Centre
100-10237 104 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 1B1
Business Info Line: 780-422-7722 or 1-800-272-9675
Fax: 780-422-0055 |
 |
www.cbsc.org/alberta |
 |
|
|
|
