Enterprise Saskatchewan

Entrepreneurship Council was formed in November 2008 in recognition of the fact that entrepreneurship is a necessary ingredient for stimulating economic growth and employment opportunities in Saskatchewan. The council puts forward recommendations for policies and programs that reduce barriers faced by entrepreneurs. Council members share a passion for entrepreneurship, a passion for Saskatchewan, and are either entrepreneurs themselves or work in organizations that support entrepreneurs.

The Council's Strategy

The Entrepreneurship Council members have combined their knowledge and experience with the input of more than 400 Saskatchewan entrepreneurs to create a strategic framework that focuses on the foundational elements or inputs that lead to entrepreneurial success. The strategy will enable a co-ordinated response to current obstacles and opportunities, while retaining a long-term perspective on improving the overall entrepreneurial program and policy landscape.

The strategic vision states:

Entrepreneurship will be a respected career choice in Saskatchewan,
with Saskatchewan being among the top locations in the world
for innovative, entrepreneurial activity.

To achieve this vision, the council has identified five pillars of strategic importance in creating a world-class environment for innovative entrepreneurial activity.

• The finance pillar addresses the need to bring the entrepreneurial finance system into better alignment with the needs of entrepreneurs.
• The mentorship pillar will promote, support and develop entrepreneurship networking and mentorship mechanisms.
• The education pillar seeks to increase preparation for entrepreneurial careers within the elementary, secondary and post-secondary education systems.
• The pathfinding pillar intends to foster a network of service providers that delivers user-friendly support for entrepreneurs.
• The competitiveness pillar provides a voice for entrepreneurship issues related to the business environment and competitiveness.

These pillars form the foundation for the inputs that help entrepreneurs grow. When the desired conditions within each pillar are met, the entrepreneurial support system will function at a higher level and ultimately generate economic impacts like firm creation, employment growth and innovation. This approach seeks to move the focus from the firm to the entrepreneur, reflecting the fact that firms do not create entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs create firms.

If you have questions or comments about the Entrepreneurship Council's work and would like to identify a barrier to entrepreneurship, please contact the council manager at Jeremy.Karwandy@enterprisesask.ca.