Sir Richard Branson's Caribbean initiative
The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship to open in Jamaica
Maura Curley
If you’re familiar with Richard Branson, you know he doesn’t just think “out of the box.”
There is no box in brand Branson, but rather an unlimited expanse waiting to be filled with enlightened enterprise - and profit.
Sir Richard is a global entrepreneur with roots in the Caribbean, which date back to his clever purchase of Necker Island in the British Virgins decades ago, which he transformed into an oasis for jet-setters. More recently he purchased Moskito Island, also in the BVI, promising to make it a showcase for green development. And Branson's Virgin Holidays has grown into the premier tour operator for vacations in the Caribbean.
Now Branson has launched The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean, designed to nurture budding entrepreneurs, create jobs and build the economy.
It will screen applications from budding and emerging entrepreneurs to grow sustainable business throughout the region. The emphasis will be on tourism related business with “ strong financial, social and environmental credentials.”
Entrepreneurs involved with the center will benefit from both skills training and funding.
Small virtual ‘ satellite” centers will follow as funding develops from corporate sponsors.
Virgin Holidays and Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group of enterprises, are dedicating $200 million pounds to seed this initiative over the next ten years.
Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays, announced the formation of the centre during a recent press conference at the 2011 Caribbean Marketplace in Jamaica. She stated …” the onus is on us all to think and do things in a new way. And it is just that need for innovation that has given birth to the Virgin Holidays Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship – Caribbean.”Wills characterized the centre’s aims as quite simple, but with "profound implications."
She told an audience of international press “We passionately believe that every business has the potential to be a force for good – and with the centre we are leading the travel sector in showing how it – and other industries – can contribute positively to the communities and countries in which they operate.”
She said the centre demonstrates Virgin’s commitment to the long term sustainability of the region and its support of the Caribbean’s tourism industry. Wills pointed out that Virgin was founded on principles of enterprise and entrepreneurship, so it seems appropriate “to support an initiative that fuels this spirit in others.”
Photo: Paulus Deuticke, investment director for Virgin Unite and Lisa Lake, chief development director for The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship in Jamaica at Caribbean Marketplace. Photo by Maura Curley
Audio: Maura Curley speaks with Virgin's Lisa Lake and Paulus Deuticke at Caribbean Marketplace in Jamaica.
Read an update about the centre in Jamaica from writer Janet Silvera UPDATE: October 2011 here
Maura Curley is publisher of Virgin Voice Publications
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