BUSINESS NEWS - The SAB Foundation and Fetola are seeking small business owners with a passion for growth to take their businesses from good to great, to apply for its Tholoana Enterprise Programme 2022.
The Foundation will recruit 60 growth-orientated entrepreneurs looking for business support, mentorship and skills training to take their businesses to the next level.
This programme helps entrepreneurs from non-traditional sectors (rural, township, women, youth and people with disability) build a profitable, resilient business that creates jobs and leaves a positive legacy for their families and communities.
Typically, these high-potential entrepreneurs enter the programme feeling frustrated with their current business performance and are seeking solutions to help scale their growth.
The programme will be helping entrepreneurs build resilient businesses while having fun and will help their businesses to be financially rewarding and fulfilling.
“The SAB Foundation Tholoana Enterprise Programme lays the right foundation to support?business?growth and development, during the course of the programme and beyond,” says Xoliswa Moraka, SAB Foundation Entrepreneurship Development Programme Manager.
“Our aim is to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses so that they will succeed well into the future.”
With unemployment, inequality and poverty being South Africa’s biggest challenges, the programme is designed to alleviate these challenges and providing sustainable solutions.
Over the past seven years, hundreds of small businesses across the country have been positively impacted by this highly popular programme, consistently increasing their performance and creating hundreds of jobs.
In addition, the resilience of the businesses at the end of the programme is almost nine times higher than the national average, meaning that 9 out of 10 businesses are anchors in their local economy many years later, and thus opening 832 job opportunities.
“There is nothing more rewarding than building a successful business – it brings a sense of empowerment that lasts for generations; access to proven support of the right kind turns this often-stressful journey into one that is more fun and financially rewarding,” says Catherine Wijnberg, CEO of Fetola, provider of proven growth solutions for small business since 2007.
“This programme understands that each business is unique - solutions to improve one business will not be the same as solutions for another. The programme has had a positive impact on my business in a number of ways, including improved operational systems and financials,” said Sibusisiwe Kraai, the owner of Platinum Glow Durban, whose business was transformed by the programme.
Entrepreneurs with big visions and big dreams who meet the following criteria are invited to apply for a coveted spot on the programme. Applications are open from 1 August to 31 August 2022 at midday.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- The business is?fully?operational and has been trading for at least 12 months.
- The business is black-owned and managed.
- The business is headquartered and registered (if applicable), within South African borders.
- The business is a going concern, commercially sustainable and viable.
- The applicant is involved in the daily operations and management of the business on a full-time basis and is not employed by any other organisation.
- The applicant has the skills and experience necessary for the type of business they are engaged in.
- The applicant should show a willingness to learn, grow and change.
- The applicant should show entrepreneurial and leadership abilities.
- The applicant should be resilient and driven to succeed.
In addition, preference will be given to:
- Enterprises run by or benefitting people living with disabilities.
- Women and youth-owned businesses.
- Peri-urban and rural enterprises.
- Enterprises that create jobs in areas with few other opportunities.
Entrepreneurs who are living with disabilities, in peri-urban and rural areas, youth, and women, are also strongly encouraged to apply. Applications are also welcome from businesses working in new and growing sectors such as export, manufacturing, food processing, water, energy and waste management.
To apply now and for more information, visit: (www.sabfoundation.co.za/tholoana-enterprise-programme).
Applications open on 1 August and close on 31 August 2022 at midday.??
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