The Surrey and White Rock region is a vibrant and diverse community, home to both a rapidly growing population and the next generation of leaders. With one third of Surrey’s residents under the age of 19 and youth in White Rock also seeking opportunities to grow their skills, preparing young people to explore entrepreneurial pathways is not only an acceptable choice but a strategic decision. The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade programs introduce youth to career pathways and develop practical entrepreneurial skills that support long-term success.
The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade focuses on the following youth programs and initiatives:
1. Optimize the regulatory environment
2. Enhance entrepreneurship education and skills development
3. Facilitate technology exchange and innovation
4. Improve access to finance
5. Promote awareness and networking
Our Programs and Partnerships
Youth Entrepreneurship in Surrey & White Rock
PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs unveiled the PowerPlay Ambassador Program at a Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade Business Pitch evening featuring Grade 5–7 students. This Canadian charity helps young people prepare for the future of work by connecting them with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and educators. The new Ambassador Program strengthens these connections by bringing business volunteers directly into classrooms and community events.
With youth unemployment in B.C. at 13.6%—more than double the national average—supporting entrepreneurial pathways is a strategic investment in our region’s future. The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade Youth Entrepreneurship Program enhances opportunities for students through events, connections, and advocacy, helping develop the skills of both the current workforce and future business owners.
PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs also offers classroom resources for Grades 4–8 and high school programs like Project Enterprise, where students create socially responsible business ventures and pitch them to community leaders.
To learn more or get involved, please contact info@swrbot.ca.
The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade is pleased to be a part of the Reboot Plus Program. Our goal is to help young people explore and develop career paths. The Reboot Plus Program is looking for professionals willing to give 30 – 60 minutes of their time to provide career insights and ideas to young people so that they can explore and develop their career plans.
This innovative program is designed for youth 17 to 24 who have not finished or are not on track to graduate high school. This first-of-its-kind program in Canada will help these youth re-engage in both education and career development.
How You Can Participate. We need business professionals to volunteer for informational interviews
Among other things, the program looks to connect student participants with business professionals to have an informational interview where they can ask questions and explore what different businesses and careers are really like.
The meetings will last for 30 to 60 minutes, and the student will help guide the discussion to help them learn about different career paths they may wish to pursue. Following the interview, the Program Team will follow-up with the professional to obtain any feedback you may have on the youth participant and on the process.
Where possible, the Program hopes that professionals will encourage other contacts in your network to participate in the project, or potentially refer the student directly to others who can provide further informational interviews. Ideally, each interview will lead to at least two further contacts per participant.
Want to Help Out? Want More Information?
Contact:
Kapil Sharma
Email: kapil@swrbot.com
Phone: 604-634-0341
Reboot Plus is Helping Youth Find Community and Connect to Education in a New Way
Reboot Plus Research Report – Sept. 2024
To find out about the impact and results of the Reboot Plus program so far, please see the recently released Reboot Plus Expansion Interim Report.
This interim report, researched and published by Blueprint on behalf of the Future Skills Centre presents early findings from Reboot Plus, a program designed to reengage at-risk youth (aged 17 to 24) in education and career development by providing them with training and exposure to post-secondary education (PSE) and the world of work. The project also aims to raise employer awareness of and willingness to engage and employ this demographic.
A student-run organization striving to develop and build space-ready rocketry technology. The club was founded in 2018. Since then the club members have been working on finding innovative ways to build rocket engines and the required infrastructure. This is made possible by bringing together individuals with new ideas and the right skills.
Contact:
Kapil Sharma
Email: kapil@swrbot.com
Phone: 604-634-0341
