BG Group announces partnership with Canadian Youth Business Foundation
November 6, 2013 | Vancouver,British Columbia
Potential growth opportunities for young entrepreneurs related to LNG development in British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – BG Group today announced a partnership with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation where the company will provide $5 million in funding during the next five years to advance entrepreneurship and business development in British Columbia.
The funds will support the development of youth-led businesses, with a focus on enhancing opportunities for First Nations and communities in the footprint of BG Group’s planned Prince Rupert LNG Project.
“Developing our surplus LNG will create opportunities across B.C.,” said Premier Christy Clark. “In all regions, in all sectors, and for entrepreneurs who identify and fill needs.”
Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development Rich Coleman said, “BG Group is investing directly in the future of our northern communities. This is the first of many social benefits we expect to see as a result of liquefied natural gas development.”
BG Group’s Prince Rupert LNG Project, which is subject to a final investment decision in 2016, could create as many as 3,000 jobs during construction, including 400-600 full-time permanent positions and additional spin-off jobs and economic opportunities.
BG Group Chief Executive Chris Finlayson, who announced the partnership in Vancouver earlier today, said: “BG Group is excited about the prospects for British Columbia’s future. We foresee industrial growth creating
significant opportunities for the western Canada workforce. Our relationship with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation represents an investment in the future – the young entrepreneurs who receive start-up funding today may well be serving a vibrant LNG sector tomorrow.”
BG Group’s commitment will include programs aimed at skills development and targeted education events. In addition, efforts will be made to link Canadian Youth Business Foundation resources with organizations that share similar objectives in northern British Columbia.
“We are thrilled to be working with BG Group and our partners throughout British Columbia to expand youth entrepreneurship,” said Julia Deans, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. “This will help young people in First Nations and other B.C. communities gain greater access to the financing, mentoring, resources and skills they need to launch businesses, create jobs, and drive economic prosperity and growth.”
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Notes to Editors:
BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a broad portfolio of business interests focused on exploration and production and liquefied natural gas. Active in more than 20 countries on five continents, BG Group combines a deep understanding of gas markets with a proven track record in finding and commercializing reserves. For further information visit: www.bg-group.com
There are matters set out within this announcement that are forward-looking statements. Such statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements, refer to BG Group’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012. BG Group does not undertake any obligation to update publicly, or revise, forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character, not collateral, when providing youth aged 18-39 with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring to help them launch and sustain successful businesses. CYBF has been recognized as a global leader in advancing youth entrepreneurship, is a founding member of the global G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA), the Canadian member of the Prince’s Youth Business International, and the Canadian Host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 18-24, 2013).
Established in 1996, CYBF has invested in more than 5,600 young and emerging entrepreneurs across Canada. Their businesses have created over 23,000 new jobs, $163.6 million in tax revenue and hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and export revenue. CYBF helps young entrepreneurs coast-to-coast through a national network of 186 community partners and more than 4,550 volunteers including business mentors. Information about CYBF is available at www.cybf.ca
Contact:
David Byford: 1-604-683-4545 david.byford@bg-group.com
Tyra-Lynne Henschel: 1-604-683-4545 tyra-lynne@shaw.ca
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