THE Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has invited Bay entrepreneurs to apply for phase seven of the Enterprise Development Programme.
The programme, which comes at an annual cost of R748 247, is funded by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and managed by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC).
It 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 NMBBC responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project.
The Nelson Mandela University (NMU) Business School and eWatchdog are the training and mentoring service providers.
This phase is expected to run from July 2020 to April 2021.
Applications for this phase close on June 11, 2020. Since its inception in 2014, more than 120 businesses out of the 160 small businesses which took part in the programme, have graduated.
Businesses are equipped with skills in areas such as leadership, marketing and financial management.
The combination of trainings is conducted and assessed by the NMU Business School and through a direct focus on soft skills training by the NMBBC through its members who voluntarily give back to the small business development.
Entrepreneurs are mentored by experienced individuals under the umbrella of eWatchdog.
ECDC senior manager for Enterprise Development, Mpumi Fundam, said that 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. It creates business-to-business platforms that assist SMMEs 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 and provide a pipeline of SMMEs for funding and support by the ECDC,” Fundam added.
According to NMBBC operations manager, Prince Matonsi, the intensive programme requires participants to attend 80% of all the business school classroom courses, 22 hours of counselling, mentoring and coaching and five coffee morning sessions aimed at developing their soft skills at the NMBBC.
“The common goal between the NMBBC and ECDC is to ensure that the programme produces tangible outcomes which should result in business viability, improved competitiveness and market access opportunities.
“We are already looking forward to phase seven of the programme,” Matonsi said.
Applications can be made by contacting Sinazo Yekiwe at admin@nmbbusinesschamber.co.za or calling 041 373 1122.prise Development Programme ready for the next phase.
