SMME & Entrepreneurship

Introduction

New business creation and sustaining existing businesses is fundamental to the growth of the South African Economy and to our future socio political stability. As identified in the GEM Report 2005, education and experience are key elements in successful venture creation. 

The NMMU Business School's Business Services Unit (a division of the Leadership academy) address entrepreneurial development through:

• Short Learning Programmes
• Cooperatives Development Project
• Business Development Services

Business Services Division

Our experience and expertise in the Business development field goes back to the establishment of former the Small Business Unit in 1982 with its main objective being to provide a comprehensive supportive service to the SMME community in the Province of the Eastern Cape. The current staff compliment collectively hold more than 22 years experience in the SMME sector.

The NMMU Business School's Business Services Unit was accredited by Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency as a Local Business Service Centre in 2000 to assist existing and emerging entrepreneurs with training, counselling and advice. Furthermore, it was accredited with SEDA and later by the National Youth Development Agency.

The specific objectives of the NMMU Business School's Business Services Unit are:

• To provide training, counselling, advisory and information services to the Small Business Sector;
• To develop special aid programmes for entrepreneurs operating in disadvantaged areas; and
• To promote entrepreneurship by conducting Entrepreneurship Development Programmes

The unit possesses experience in consulting, training and community projects.

Achievements

The NMMU Business School's Business Services Unit has:

• Developed 8 ABSA community projects throughout the Eastern Cape Province;
• Partnered with SEDA for SMME development for 8 years;
• Partnered with the Development Bank of Southern Africa for 3 years in a Local Economic Development Programme for various Municipalities;
• Partnered with Standard Bank for a SMME Development Programme in the Motherwell Urban Renewal Programme;
• Been the leading SMME service provider within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University for 5 years; and
• Is currently the implementing agent for 3 years in the Missionvale Campus for the co-operatives development programme.

Products & Services

The Business Services Unit offers support to the SMME sector in terms of:

• Tender advice;
• Feasibility & viability studies;
• Access to finance;
• Establishment of businesses;
• Business planning;
• Mentorship/aftercare;
• Networking/capacity building;
• Business linkages;
• Project Management;
• Job creation projects;
• Assessment/evaluation of income generating activities; 
• Sector focused business training; and
• Co-operative Development Centre (see below)

Co-operative Development Centre (CDC)

The first ever Co-operative Development Centre in the Eastern Cape that seeks to:

Create a sustainable future for Nelson Mandela Bay's Co-operatives. Uplift society and communities, for growth, for sustainability, for personal development and career advancement. Shape the future with the NMMU Business School. 

The Business Services Division of the Leadership Academy is the implementing agent of the Co-operative Development Centre in the Missionvale Campus. This is a 3-year contract that started in June 2010 until June 2013.

The development of the co-operative movement is a planned process that is to respond to business imperatives for sustainability. The major imperatives for the realization of an environment that is to sustain the effective entrepreneurial culture for a localized co operative movement by doing these interventions.

Objectives

• To assist the co-operatives to be sustainable
• To undertake capacity building sessions
• To organize workshops that will serve as a networking session and a platform  to develop business linkages
• To provide access to business counselling
• To assist with compliance issues
• To provide conflict resolution support
• Help to create common bond between co-operatives
• To provide access to Business Development Services

Stakeholders & Partners

• Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC)
• Department of Social Development
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
• ABSA 

Contacts

For more information about the Business Services Unit's product and service offerings, please contact us.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Missionvale Campus

Contact person: Linda Qinga

Telephone: +27 (0) 861 504 500/504 4389

Email