Launched on Wednesday 2 February The Velddrif Entrepreneur Programme’s first intake ended on Thursday 26 May.
Its purpose was to enrich minds and assist small business owners in their journey.
Business sessions took place every Wednesday at the Noordhoek Community Hall, covering topics such as the psychology of an entrepreneur, unique business points identification, competitor analysis, social media marketing, business design and much more.
Dr Clive Coetzee of the Faculty of Military Science and the University of Stellenbosch spearheaded this initiative. Coetzee said speakers came from far and wide and had some very fruitful and robust discussions with the participants.
At the beginning of the programme nine participants took part, but six stayed to the end.
“Stellenbosch University via a social impact grant to the Faculty of Military Science made R140 000 available to the participants, to test and implement their business ideas and plans,” said Coetzee.
The participants did exceptionally well and benefited greatly from this programme.
To name a few, salon owner Stephanie Bowers expanded her hair salon by managing her time and clients more professionally, and nail technician Marcelaine van Wyk is now operating her nail salon full-time. Coetzee also shared that Sederick Nero had increased his sales and significantly improved his cash flow. “He had dramatically redesigned his landscaping and gardening services to include home agriculture services.”
The vision and future of the Velddrif Entrepreneur Programme is ever growing as the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) offered participants business equipment worth R10 000 each. The West Coast College Centre for Entrepreneurship and Rapid Incubator offered the participants each a three year scholarship and the Velddrif Business Chamber has offered one year free membership and half price for the second year.
Coetzee said he is passionate about this initiative. “This takes hard work and dedication. We need to transform Noordhoek into a place of business.”
