Inspired by the Conestoga Gig Lab, Canada's first and only business incubator for freelance entrepreneurs, a new micro-credential starting this September will help individuals start and optimize their freelance business.
The Successful and Sustainable Freelancing micro-credential is comprised of three courses in strategic foundations, operational frameworks and demand generation. All courses include comprehensive concept instruction as well as weekly one-on-one coaching with an experienced gig coach.
“Micro-credentials are short, concentrated groups of courses that are flexible, innovative, timely and based on industry needs,” explained Rose Mastnak, director, Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective (CEC). “Successful and Sustainable Freelancing recognizes the increase in remote work and a shift in students' career goals. We have seen a growing acceptance of gig work for employers and workers, with more people taking advantage of the flexibility outside the traditional 9-to-5 job.”
The CEC empowers and inspires students and alumni to successfully participate in the Waterloo Region entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem by providing multiple pathways for engagement that include developing a new business, becoming a corporate innovator and providing support systems to the ecosystem.
Successful and Sustainable Freelancing begins this fall with Strategic Foundations. This course teaches students to define their service offering, identify their customer and investigate their customer journey, detail a pricing strategy and articulate what makes them different and desirable to clients. This work culminates in the definition of a positioning statement that serves as the foundation for the audit of any existing materials and the development of new business assets including a portfolio website, logo, case studies and promotional materials.
Applications are also open for all labs in the CEC for the Fall 2021 cohort. The Venture Lab is Conestoga's universal business incubator, helping entrepreneurs start any kind of new business; the Gig Lab is Canada’s first and only business incubator for freelancers, helping talented people monetize their professional skills; and the Sales Lab is Canada’s first and only incubator for sales careers, helping achievers turn sales aptitude into their first sales job. Applications are available online and open to full-time or part-time Conestoga students and college alumni who have graduated within the last five years.
For more information about the Successful and Sustainable Freelancing micro-credential, or other programming available through the CEC, contact Rose Mastnak.