The Scotiabank Vision Achievers 2022 on Tuesday (September 20) held its closing ceremony, where three winners were chosen among 25 participants in the 12th staging of the programme.

The participants represented businesses from the pharmaceutical, tourism, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and catering sectors, and benefited from a 17-week programme under Action Coach Marcia Woon Choy, from whom they received one-on-one business consultations, courses and training.

The top three each received a plaque from Scotiabank, J$250,000 grant from the Development Bank of Jamaica, J$250,000 towards digital/online marketing of their products/services from Trend Media, J$200,000 in advertising from The Gleaner Company, and a J$200,000 gift certificate from Ashley Furniture Home.

This year’s cohort of Vision Achievers includes Bambusa, Baruch Distributors Limited, CAA Enterprise, Chemqualco, Chocolate Dreams Limited, Davene Jonas Style, Effit, Jesse’s Gifts and Décor, LB Resorts Limited, Likkle Tea, Michelle Thomas and Associates, Midtown Plumbing, Electrical and Tools Supplies, Modern Cooperage and More Limited, NKM Cleaning Services, Notmar Trading Company Limited, Operation Rehab Limited, Royale Pharmacy, Somers Furnishing, SteamHouse Network Limited, STEM Builders Learning Hub Limited, The Art of Motivation, The Bread Pudding Factory, Tornadoes Swim Club, Uncorked 2017 Limited, and Weelkris Trading.

Speaking at the closing ceremony at the AC Marriott hotel in St Andrew, Perrin Gayle, head of retail banking and small business, said in his address to the participants that “Scotiabank is heavily invested in your future and the future of SMEs in Jamaica”.

He added: “We think this is an important aspect for us to invest because of the role that SMEs make in growing our economy.”

The top winners were Rushane Somers from Somers Furnishing, Nastassia Morrison from HomeMaid Jamaica and NKM Cleaning Services and Kiddist Cowans from Jesse’s Gifts & Decor.

“I’m proud of all of our top winners this evening,” said Woon Choy.

“I’m also proud of Scotiabank for all the vision achievers over the years and I’m really happy with the participation and commitment from Scotiabank,” she continued.

Senator Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment and commerce, shared with Our Today that he was more than impressed with the contribution and commitment that all 25 entrepreneurs showed to the programme and congratulated Woon Choy and Scotiabank for the work they put in.

“The commitment that they showed as young entrepreneurs, the commitment to be disciplined, to stay with the programme and learn, is quite amazing and I congratulate them and Scotiabank,” said Hill.

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