STATEMENT BY THE MAYCO MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

The healthy development of small businesses is critical to economic growth. This is why, as a City government, we are constantly working to empower local businesses. The upcoming Business Mentorship Programme speaks to this very goal. Local entrepreneurs who are interested in being mentored need to be registered as vendors on the City’s database and apply for the programme by no later than 18 February 2022.

The programme will match 20 City-registered vendors with seasoned business leaders who will mentor their apprentices over 10 months. Over the course duration, the mentors will assess the entrepreneurs’ business practices, strengths and weaknesses and help them to hone their products and services.

The initiative is a partnership between the Rotary Club and is supported by the False Bay Centre for Entrepreneurship.

As the project champion, it gives me great pride that the City can be involved in such a programme. Starting a business and keeping it afloat is harder than ever. Yet small businesses are the biggest source of employment. It is where innovation and resourcefulness flourish. Connecting fledgling entrepreneurs with industry veterans can give these start-ups the space to learn from the knowledge and experience of someone who has experienced similar challenges.

The initiative is one of a suite of business support projects overseen and funded by the City.

Our Business Hub is also on call to help Cape Town’s aspiring and existing start-ups learn how to access funding, cut red tape, and learn the tools of the trade. I encourage people to sign up for the hub’s Supplier Development workshops where a variety of topics will be covered, including financial management, and the ins and outs of costing and pricing one’s products.

Source: City Of Cape Town