More than 30 application reports have been submitted
Business license, training course certificate, startup experience description, various letters of awards... and so many other materials are in the hands of Ding Zhijun, boss of the purified water station. A couple of days ago, she went to the Startup Training Center of Shanghai 2nd Industry University to apply for the qualification of "Startup and Internship Base", which was just launched as the 1st project of college startup and internship base in Shanghai. More than 30 "small bosses" have submitted their applications.
40-something Ding Zhijun joined the startup course in Shanghai 2nd Industry University 3 years ago, and she is running 2 purified water stations. Ding wanted to share her experience of startup through the "Startup and internship base".
"A model can encourage a group if we build the "Startup and internship bases" that provide internship opportunities to the new trainees in the enterprises run by the graduated ones", said Ding Xinming, deputy dean of Adult and Continuing Education College of Shanghai 2nd Industry University, full of confidence.
Shanghai 2nd Industry University is the 1st university that works on the theory and practice of startup training. From 1998 on, it has provided 138 training courses to 8225 trainees accumulatively. Many laid-offs and "4050" people started up business successfully with what they learnt in this university.
"The trainees that have start up business successfully are good resources. In the restaurants, repairing factories and housework companies, the new trainees can learn the valuable startup experiences", said by Jiang Zhiping, Director of Startup Training Office in the university. "The trainees can practice and understand better the dozen of theoretic courses such as 'Marketing' and 'Finance Cost' they learnt in the class".
"It's a practical way. I believe that one success can teach more successes, so as to help the administration in employment issue", Ding Xinming added.
"Small bosses" are active to be the internship coachers
Zang Jianyong, from 365 Computer School; Lu Meili, from Tianyuan Housework Service Agency; Chenyi, from Hao Zailai Leisure Foods Agency; Ding Zhijun, from "Metropolitan Spring" purified station... and many other graduated trainees have showed their supportive feedback since the invitation named as "Let's hand in hand for startup" was sent this May, which made Teacher Wu Xiamei in charge of it very happy. "Many trainees not only submitted the applications, but also prepared a lot of relevant documents that can be found in my office. Majority of these documents describes the typical stories of successful startup."
"Everyone wants a guidance in his 1st startup business", known the difficulties, Ding Zhijun has made the internship and training plan or the coming trainees. "I'll do what a coach should do, and share with them all my experience in running the purified station, so they can do the startup in easier way."
Building the internship and training base is not just to coach others, but also an opportunity to improve herself to Ding Zhijun. "It's an opportunity for us to learn from each other. The trainees will contribute some new ideas, so I can learn more." Ding Zhijun doesn't care the possible competition from the trainees and the graduates, "I hope they can start up business with me."
20 Bases Come into Service in Summer Time
The Startup Training Center of Shanghai 2nd Industry University has also set strict standard for the appliers: They must be familiar with the business techniques in the industries, understand the administration policies of encouraging business startup, and have run the business for no less than 2 years... Additional requirements have been made on the investment size, business area, and staff number in the internship and training base of various industries.
In the next month, the Center will invite the related experts to examine the appliers in field, so as to determine 20 bases. "The internship and training bases shall cover all the industries in order to match different startup choices of trainees", Wu Xiamei told the journalist. "The bases will come into official service in the summer time. Through 2-way selection, every base will accept 3 trainees, and will renew another group after they meet the standard."
Ding Zhijun is waiting for the copper plate of "Startup Internship and Training Base" to her purified water station. "The government and the social circles have given us so many helps and cares, so we have to pay back in this way."
"Small bosses" talk about startup business
Lu Meili, from Tianyuan Housework Service Agency: I handled the procedures of maintaining contract in 1999, and left the textile industry. At the beginning of 2000, I applied for the certificate of Tianyuan Housework Service Agency, indicating my 1st business. For more than a year after the service agency was founded, my business has been losing money. I thought of quit at the moment. Given to the encouragement and help from social circles, I updated the service concept and style, and made money gradually. Today, Tianyuan Housework Service is available throughout Shanghai, and even provides service to the foreigners. In about 100 staffs in the agency, 98% are "4050" people in Shanghai. I was awarded as "China Female Model" for my business.
Chenyi, from HaoZailai Leisure Foods Service Agency: I never thought of work for myself after being laid off in 1996. I have tried the business of stationery wholesale, and furnishings sales. Then I rent a 5m2 storefront to sell fried melon seeds by Xintan Road in Xinzhuang area. It was good in the beginning, but didn't last for long. Just a couple of months later, some competitors run by the immigrants were established nearby, which sold poor-quality products at lower price. My business declined. At the tough moment, I joined the startup course given by Minhang District administration and Shanghai 2nd Industry University. I learnt a lot of business ideas and found the new way. After the course, I applied what I learnt to my business, and ran the business better and better. Now I own 3 chain stores that employee 9 laid-offs. In the dream I always hold, I want to help others to start up business in addition to running my business well, so as to repay the society.
Ding Zhijun, from "Metropolitan Spring" purified station: I had worked in Shanghai Bicycle Saddle Assembly Factory before I was laid off in 1991. At the beginning, I wove sweaters because I knew how to do it. But 3 years later, I was forced to demolish my store. In 2001, the Municipal Government began to offer the favorite policies for "4050" startups, so I joined the startup courses and looked for proper projects. Through observation, I found that "Metropolitan Spring" purified water, a "4050 startup" project, had great potential. On April 29th 2001, I launched my "Metropolitan Spring" Haisheng Water Station. To improve the business, I spent all the daytime in the station, and inserted the product introductions into the mailboxes in the evening. In the hot July, I invited the passengers to drink free of charge everyday. After 3 month, I began to make money. At the end of that Sept, I opened the 2nd station. My husband and my son went to help me sometimes, which encouraged me greatly. Now the 2 stations are well run. I regarded the 9 employees as my brothers and sisters that I can share happiness and woe.