Mentorship programme can reduce unemployment

Moreover, Reed is hoping to reduce that statistic through the implementation of a mentoring programme. The Vuka Mentorship Programme is focused on ensuring that the widespread development of small business enterprises in South Africa is considerably accelerated, therefore, not only aiding job creation but adding to the country's GDP growth as well.

Entrepreneurs are not assessed

Since its inception in 2010, The Vuka Mentorship Programme has already encountered considerable success in ensuring mass mentorship, having reached over 738 aspiring entrepreneurs over the past year, through its partnerships with Nedbank and the Gauteng Province. The Nedbank programme has also mentored 240 entrepreneurs during the same period.

"Through my dealings with the entrepreneurs, I realised that they weren't being assessed up front to determine whether they had the capacity to be in business or the potential to be mentored to become better business owners. There was clearly a need for a tool that could help survivalist businesses and entrepreneurs become more sustainable."

The programme is also assisting numerous corporate companies in cultivating small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) that can supply products or services within their local communities. Uniquely, it is the only programme which enables companies to track entrepreneur investments, while measuring how an entrepreneur is being developed.

Inviting corporates to partner

"The programme has the potential to create a wide range of small world class businesses, which will not only result in increased employment, but will also increase the supplier bases of many local corporate companies. Therefore, I urge corporate companies to partner with our programme, as ultimately, it will assist greatly in positioning South Africa as a major force on the world stage.

"Their support will allow us to incorporate even more entrepreneurs into the programme, uplift skills development, positively contribute to job creation, and ultimately help to create sustainable business entities. I have no doubt this support will go a long way to decreasing the unemployment rate and assisting poverty alleviation in the country," Reeds concludes.