Nicolette Dirk
IN a bid to get 1 000 entrepreneurs skilled enough to boost their businesses, UWC and the Economic Opportunities Department have launched a two-day business strategy course.
Entrepreneurs have until November to do the free course. The programme starts tomorrow and business owners will be trained in business strategy, marketing and sales strategy, and operations strategy development.
Programmes will run in the Cape metropole, the West Coast, Cape Winelands, Overberg and the Central Karoo.
UWC rector and vice-chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius said the university felt privileged to be part of a journey that would empower budding entrepreneurs in the Cape.
“For South Africa to progress, it is imperative that institutions, the private sector, government and academia work in collaboration to equip our people with the necessary skills, training and support to foster a culture of success and growth,” said Pretorius.
UWC entrepreneurship and innovation centre director Charleen Duncan said the centre was established in 2013.
“The centre was created to build more businesses in the Bellville area and get a mind-set of entrepreneurship at our university,” said Duncan.
The centre is supported by Absa and so far there have been monthly workshops on putting together a tender document and educating people about the new BBBEE policies. Only 3 percent of South African start-ups survive beyond three years and one of the contributing factors is a lack of business skills.
Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde said the province was already bucking the national trend. “According to the latest Ventureburn Start-up Survey, two-thirds of South Africa’s start-ups are based in the Western Cape. In this province, our number one goal is the creation of opportunities for economic growth and jobs.”
To participate, businesses must be registered and operational in the Western Cape, and should have a valid tax clearance certificate or be in the process of registering for tax.
Application forms are available on the UWC website, https://tr.im/uwcsmme
Call Wendy Mehl at 021 959 9549 or e-mail [email protected]