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Strengthen Your SME With NMBBC

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber recently introduced a Capacity Building Programme in partnership with COMSEC and supported by Standard Bank.

The need for such a Capacity Building programme was recognised by the NMBBC as small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are the engines of job creation and growth in the Eastern Cape. To sustain the economy, we need SMEs that can grow and sustain themselves.

Says Samantha Venter, Operations Director at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber; “While small business owners may have specialist knowledge in their field, they often lack the basic business skills to keep that business afloat. The aim of the Capacity Building programme is to equip them with the foundation of knowledge they need in order to run their businesses successfully. There are basic things that every small business owner needs to know and understand – how to manage cash flow and people, how to market their business, how to read and understand contracts – we will pass this knowledge on and enable them to do more for themselves and their employees. We want to see small businesses grow themselves to a point where they can create more jobs and thus strengthen the economy.”

Many SME owners are not equipped with the skills necessary for them to conduct their business in a professional manner. The programme focuses on basic business principles that will be taught in a modular format, and will include the following:

  • Business Planning
  • Marketing
  • Human Resources
  • Financial Management
  • Customer Care
  • Legal Requirements
  • Business Ethics

The subsidized, accredited programme will be made available to Small Business Owners in Nelson Mandela Bay at a considerably reduced cost.

The first programme will commence at the end of July 2011. Applications close 13 July 2011.

Bradley Ragaval, SME Helpdesk Co-ordinator, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber; Rajen Ryan, Executive Director, COMSEC; Kevin Hustler, CEO, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber; Mzi Baleni, Provincial Manager: Business Acquisition, Standard Bank. Photo credit: Sandra Pow Chong
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.