By Cat Pritchard
Are you a small businesses, NGO or community-based project involved in the craft, tourism and small-scale manufacturing sectors? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit, are willing to change and believe in the ultimate success of your business? Well then listen up because the Old Mutual Legends Programme is inviting applications for its 2010 programme.
The Old Mutual Legends Programme is a small business development initiative funded by the Old Mutual Foundation. Started in 2007, the programme aims to provide a platform for sustainable business development in the craft and small-scale manufacturing sectors. It seeks to stimulate the growth of small businesses by empowering owners and managers with the skills and self-belief to successfully operate their own business.
Andile Ncontsa, Head of the Old Mutual Foundation adds: “For me, this is what economic development is really about; finding ways to ensure that emerging businesses and entrepreneurs within our communities have the skills to make a sustainable living and, importantly, are fully empowered to control their own future”.
It’s not easy growing a successful business which is why the programme addresses the common issues faced by small business faces. Each business gets a careful assessment of the needs of the businesses by an experienced business consultant with practical knowledge of the
industry. From here, a prioritised process of change follows, and can include product development, hands-on skills training, business systems implementation, market access linkages and order facilitation.
The programme is specifically designed to:
• Improve the economic viability of participating businesses
• Improve the skills of individuals and entrepreneurs
• Enhance and support the growth of new, especially women-owned, enterprises
• Strengthen emerging businesses and community-based projects through increased sales and skills development
• Facilitate the aims of broad-based black economic empowerment
The programme is currently active in the Western Cape, KZN, Gauteng and Mpumulanga with plans to expand into the Eastern Cape and other regions in 2010 reference will be given to Black-owned and BEE-compliant organisations and those with a track record of at least 2 – 3 years in operation.
For more information, contact Chantal de Kock on info@thelegendsprogramme.co.za or on (021) 7018096 or visit: www.thelegendsprogramme.co.za