Wealth Creation Scheme enriches the lives of Worldwide staff

The path to success has come earlier than expected for two young staff members from Worldwide Online Printing in Strathfield, Sydney.

Renee Woodward, 26, and Carly McIlvride, 22, have both been given the chance to join a new wealth creation programme for print communication entrepreneurs. They are the first members of the scheme, which gives young Australian entrepreneurs the opportunity to unlock their commercial potential with an equity stake in a company alongside experienced business owners.

Woodward currently manages Worldwide's centre in Strathfield and McIlvride works at the same centre as senior designer/customer service representative. Under the new scheme they will become co-owners with Vince Grieco of new centres in Brookvale and nearby Silverwater.

The scheme was conceived by Strathfield centre-owner Grieco, who saw how hard it was for young people to move from management into business ownership, and decided to devise a rapid roll-out plan which could take Renee and Carly from designers to multi-business owner in less than three years.

Pictured below: gung-ho entrepreneurs, Renee Woodward (left) and Carly McIlvride (right).

"It's a huge responsibility and if I think about it for too long, it can sometimes seem a bit daunting," said Renee. "The fact that this can happen to someone like me shows just how far printing - and franchising - have come.

"Being a print professional at Worldwide today means working with clients to develop their marketing and communication collateral and help them to build stronger brands. Because all the printing is done in our giant production facilities, staff in the centres are left to focus on customer service."

According to Grieco, the scheme shows what can be achieved when talented young people get a chance to unlock their potential and leverage the commercial value that often otherwise lies hidden within crafts such as graphic design and copywriting.

"Franchising provides a great opportunity for people to own and grow their own business without also taking on all the usual risks, but it doesn't help successful managers become owners," he said.

"The scheme opens up that route, and will hopefully pave the way for a new breed of entrepreneur who has bags of drive and ability but hasn't been working long enough to build up the capital base needed to make their business ownership dreams into reality."