Grenada is preparing to host a three-day training exercise of the UK-based Sterling Business Network (SBN).

Organisers say they’re expecting more than 500 delegates to attend the event that will be held under the theme, “The Power of our Association”.  It will be hosted from December 1-3 at the Radisson Grand Resort in St. George’s.

“Excellence is at the heart of our training; our facilitators are subject matter experts from around the globe, with both academic and experiential expertise,’’ said SBN Chief Executive Officer, Raymond McMillan ACII. “By being a member of the brand automatically links you to Canada, Africa, South and Central America and Europe. You get contacts, business referrals, products and services internationally.’’

SBN operates on three continents and in 10 countries, including Grenada. The local Conference Director is insurance manager, Judy Mc Cutcheon.

Each year, SBN engages tens of thousands of businesses and entrepreneurs across several countries through regular meetings, quarterly and annual conferences, and training events.

Mr. McMillan told the Barnacle that Grenada won the bid to host what he describes as SBN’s first international tri-annual conference.

“Our target audience is the SME market. That’s the market we are catering to; trying to help small, medium and also micro enterprises,’’ Mr. McMillan explained.

As a whole, he said, SBN’s focus is on “human capital development’’.

“SBN recognises that there is a need to not only support the interactions of organisations wanting to engage and do business, but also to support their needs by enhancing the skill set and abilities of human capital in a vibrant learning environment,’’ said Mr. McMillan. “We aim to help create a disciplined culture of excellence that supports the personal and business development requirements of each course participant.’’

SBN has three “core offerings’’ that include a Youth Academy Programme and a Business Elite Programme.

Another, which is considered the main, is Business Networking, Mr. McMillan said. “We would have business meetings in different places around the world; some groups meet weekly, some meet fortnightly, over a meal, preferably breakfast, and you share leads and referrals to the members of that particular group,’’ he said, in highlighting SBN’s networking concept.

“The difference in that business networking scenario, as against another business group, is that only one seat is allowed per profession,’’ Mr. McMillan added. “Therefore, you would only find one banker, one accountant, one insurance person in that group; so all the members would focus their efforts in building that person’s business. It’s members getting together, building their own particular business, through the SBN platform.’’

Registration and sponsorship information for SBN’s December international tri-annual conference in Grenada are available by emailing info@sbnibc.com or judy@sbnibc.com; or by calling 473-405-6672 or +44 800-292-2075.

For more information, you are also invited to visit the websites www.sterlingbusinessnetwork.com and www.sbnibc.com