Many immigrants to Nova Scotia arrive with the passion to start a business, but while they may bring the drive to succeed, they can lack the local knowledge to find success. That’s where the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) can help.
Even newcomers who arrive speaking English might not understand “how we speak about business,” says Sherry Redden, ISANS manager of business and workforce integration.
“Accentuating that is that they don’t have networks, they don’t know the lay of the land, and they don’t know what’s required to start a business in Nova Scotia,” she says.
That includes vital information like what permits and licenses you must obtain and which laws cover business owners. ISANS has helped immigrants for more than 20 years. They revised their approach three years ago in light of a Conference Board of Canada survey of immigrant employers.
“The top three [needs] were: information on what is required to start the business,” Redden says, “all of the government permits and regulations, and the resources available.
“Number two was looking for a settlement service that saw them as a whole person, not just someone who is starting a business. They may have family, they may have language issues, or they may need to find a survival job while they’re starting their business,” she says. “The third was looking for a good accountant.”
ISANS delivers workshops that meet the entrepreneur needs to get the business off the ground. With its wide range of services, ISANS can also help settle the entire family.
In 2013–14, ISANS met with 253 new clients who want to start a business. Some 66 clients opened a business in that period. ISANS surveys show their approach works: 72 per cent of ISANS-connected businesses are still open after three years, compared to the average success rate of 48 per cent.
