Small Business Development & ESD Archives - Page 12 of 23

Africa Month: Unlocking Opportunities for African Businesses

Small Business Development & ESD, Thought Leadership / Chris Buchanan

Africa Month is a time to celebrate and recognise the achievements and contributions of the African continent. One area where Africa has tremendous potential is in business and entrepreneurship. However, many African businesses face challenges accessing the capital they need to grow and expand. Debt financing can be a powerful tool for African businesses looking […]

Africa Month: Unlocking Opportunities for African Businesses Read More »

YES surpasses 100,000 jobs mark

ESD initiatives, Small Business Development & ESD / Chris Buchanan

Private sector funded non-profit, the Youth Employment Service (YES), has deployed 100,000 young South Africans into the private sector within just four years. With most of these youth coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, they have the chance to not just change the course of their lives, but also that of the country, says YES chief executive

YES surpasses 100,000 jobs mark Read More »

Pizza Hut gives young women a slice of the pie

Community & Impact, ESD initiatives, Programmes, Small Business Development & ESD / Chris Buchanan

Pizza Hut has partnered with the Youth Employment Service (YES) to launch LeadHERship, an initiative to address youth unemployment and gender inequality in South Africa. The program targets women aged between 18 and 24, where almost two-thirds of individuals in this age group are not economically active, with over 70% female. LeadHERship provides these women

Pizza Hut gives young women a slice of the pie Read More »

Agriculture career spotlight

Community & Impact, ESD initiatives, Programmes, Small Business Development & ESD / Chris Buchanan

Bayer supports Agricareers roadshow to showcase career opportunities in agriculture. While the official unemployment rate has eased marginally to 32.7%, South Africa’s unemployment rate is still one of the worst in the world, with 7.8 million people unemployed. Even more concerning is the country’s youth unemployment. Accounting for over half of SA’s employable population, this

Agriculture career spotlight Read More »

Why corporate SA must woo women leaders

Small Business Development & ESD, Thought Leadership / Chris Buchanan

In the post-pandemic world, companies are losing female leaders at unprecedented rates as women take up better job opportunities or search for work-life balance. By The Gordon Institute of Business Science Female CEOs are still so rare that they make headlines when one resigns. In February 2023, Natascha Viljoen announced she was leaving her position

Why corporate SA must woo women leaders Read More »

What makes an early-stage business investable?

Small Business Development & ESD, Thought Leadership / Chris Buchanan

You have a plan, you’ve started to implement it, but how do you get it to the next level by bringing in some outside investment? Just what makes an entrepreneur investment-ready? By Edge Growth We had a chat to some of Edge Growth’s team to find out exactly what they look for when they start

What makes an early-stage business investable? Read More »

Once a chainsaw operator – now a grower

ESD initiatives, Small Business Development & ESD / Chris Buchanan

Enoch Mathenjwa’s journey in forestry goes way back – nearly four decades back to a different time in South Africa. In 1983 Enoch got his first job in forestry as a chainsaw operator for Shell Forestry in KwaMbonambi. Little did he know that he would eventually own 40 hectares of his own lush forests, scattered

Once a chainsaw operator – now a grower Read More »

Will smart townships and informal settlements bridge the digital divide?

Community & Impact, ESD initiatives, Small Business Development & ESD, Thought Leadership / Chris Buchanan

South Africa’s failing infrastructure and local service delivery has been well-documented in recent years. Failing infrastructure has an outsize impact on township and rural communities with the growing digital divide in townships fuelling inequality. Townships were never designed to become major economic drivers, with the result that today they are characterised by high rates of

Will smart townships and informal settlements bridge the digital divide? Read More »

Exit and expansion for passionate KZN-based recycling start up

Small Business Development & ESD, SME showcase / Chris Buchanan

A 100% black-owned recycling business in Newcastle has become another example of how growth support initiatives are integral to drive entrepreneurs to the next level of growth and scalability. The business was started in 2009 by three young entrepreneurs from Osizweni township in Newscastle, KwaZulu Natal. With a borrowed bakkie and no employees, these three

Exit and expansion for passionate KZN-based recycling start up Read More »

FNB commits R200 million for SME development with launch of Vumela 4

ESD initiatives, Small Business Development & ESD / Chris Buchanan

Significant and growing unemployment and poverty are risks to the sustainability of South Africa. A growing and sustainable SME sector does a great deal to contribute to the alleviation of these factors. Image: Richard Rose, CEO of the Fund Management division for Edge Growth To further assist this sector, FNB this week announced a R200

FNB commits R200 million for SME development with launch of Vumela 4 Read More »

Small Business Development & ESD

Subscribe To Our Monthly Newsletter