A 12-week online course for people with disabilities who wish to start their own business or be self-employed will be held from February to April 2025, with sessions delivered every Friday from 10:00 – 12:00.
The course is being delivered by the FPEI in collaboration with Technological University Dublin and The Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation at the University of Malta. Malta Enterprise is financially supporting the initiative, so it is free of charge for all participants.
Applicants may already have a business idea that they would like to explore in this programme, but this is not a requirement because a two-hour pre-course workshop on business idea generation will be held in November 2024.
- Dates: Pre-course workshop – 15 November 2024 / Course: February – April 2025
- Time: 10:00 – 12:00
- Venue: Online (Zoom)
- Participants: aged 18+ (max. 10 participants)
- Registration is closed – Deadline for applications is Sunday, 3 November 2024.
Is this course for you?
The course is open to anyone who:
- self-identifies as having a disability and
- wishes to become self-employed/start their own business.
Course Content
In addition to the pre-course idea generation workshop, participants will cover the following topics during the course:
- Distinctive challenges facing people with disabilities becoming self-employed
- Idea evaluation
- Customer segmentation
- Customer relationships and channels
- Clarifying the Value Proposition
- Balancing business and personal well-being
- Key business activities
- Key resources and partners
- Developing financial projections
- Test marketing your idea
- Understanding legal matters
- Presenting your business plan
Each module will include a range of Guest Speakers (including role models and subject experts) whose experience and expertise are relevant to the target audience.
Further Information
The lectures will be recorded and made available for viewing at any time, plus a range of useful content resources will be provided online for review when suitable for the course participant. Thanks to the collaboration of the University of Malta, participants will be eligible to access the relevant UM resources (e.g. library, disability support services). Additionally, each participant will be allocated a business mentor who will support them in developing their business idea.
Add-ons
In addition, using the online tool SimVenture Validate will enable participants to develop their ideas weekly. Moreover, by adopting Universal Design for Learning principles, a customised experiential learning approach will allow each participant to maximise their learning from the course.
How can you apply?
Potential participants are initially required to complete the application form via the button below
The deadline for applications is Sunday, 3 November 2024. Any queries relating to the course should be emailed to info@fpei.mt.
This course is open ONLY to people living in Malta.
In collaboration with Technological University Dublin
In collaboration with The Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation
Sponsored by Malta Enterprise
