Enterprise development programme calls for applications

Mpumi Fundam, senior manager for enterprise development at ECDC

The enterprise development programme which comes at an annual cost of R748,247 is funded by the ECDC and it is project managed by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. The programme is aimed at improving the business management skills of small businesses through on-the-job customised training modules, coaching and mentoring.

The programme runs over a nine-month period with the ECDC being the lead funder and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber being responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project. The Nelson Mandela University Business School and the eWatchdog are the training and mentoring service providers respectively.

“This phase is expected to run from July 2020 to April 2021. Applications of this phase close on 11 June 2020. Since inception in 2014, the programme has graduated over 120 businesses out of the 160 small businesses that have gone through the programme. Businesses are equipped in areas such as leadership, marketing and financial management.

The combination of trainings is conducted and assessed by the Nelson Mandela University Business School as well as through a direct focus on soft skills training by the Business Chamber through its members who voluntarily give back to small business development. Entrepreneurs are mentored by experienced mentors under the umbrella of eWatchdog.

“The programme helps participants understand the elements of market-readiness, growing their businesses and sustainable job creation. The programme offers an effective combination of mentorship and skills development,” says Mpumi Fundam, ECDC senior manager for enterprise development.

Fundam says the programme creates business to business platforms that assist SMME’s to be prepared for finance, sales and market opportunities. It also improves SMME awareness of government procurement opportunities. It further uses the chamber networking and business to business platforms to promote their businesses as well as providing a pipeline of SMMEs for funding and support by the ECDC.

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Operations Manager, Prince Matonsi says “the intensive programme requires participants to attend 80% of all the NMB Business School classroom courses, 22 hours of counselling, mentoring and coaching as well as attending five coffee morning sessions aimed at developing their soft skills at the Business Chamber”.

“The common goal between the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and ECDC is to ensure the programme produces tangible outcomes which should result in business viability, improved competitiveness and market access opportunities. We are already looking forward to the seventh phase of the programme,” says Matonsi.

For application forms, interested SMMEs should e-mail Sinazo Yekiwe: az.oc.rebmahcssenisubbmn@nimda or call +27(0)41 373 1122.