The Year Ahead for Small Businesses

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Business Will Never Be The Same Again

This is after budding small entrepreneurs spent the day with the Gauteng MEC for economic development, Qedani Mahlangu, and other influential business people on 21 October at the Alexandra Stadium. Mahlangu was in town to launch Y-Age, a public-private partnership that looks at practical ways to stimulate and sustain an entrepreneurial culture in South Africa. The mission and vision of Y-Age is to find and identify 100 000 entrepreneurs in Gauteng to assess their needs, train and fund them through various sources. By each of the100 000 entrepreneurs employing 3-5 employees in their businesses, the capacity to engage 1m people is distinct. Young people who had great entrepreneurial ideas but not the money, are encouraged to register on the Y-Age database.  The database will be made available to big companies and government departments. List your SMME business here: http://w.yage.co.za, sign up and your info will be part of the database.

The Roodepoort Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ROCCI) a specialist in SMME Training and Development for the past three years congratulates the Gauteng Dept.of Economic Development on this initiative and offers its active services to the department in the true sense of partnership between Private Enterprise and Government. If this was replicated by each of the Provinces – the 10m job opportunities set out in the New Growth path will become a reality in the next 10 years and hopefully sooner.

The same offer is extended to the City of Joburg, who have a similar programme with R2b set aside to help establish and develop small, medium and micro enterprises.

2011 SMME Gala Event and Conference

Have a look at the recent SMME conference and Gala event photos

SMME Articles in Local Newspapers

Rewards for Business

Programme to grow the local economy

Big award for small business

SMME Network and Exhibition event photos Dec 09- Click here

British American Tobacco (BAT) South Africa has been the main has been the main corporate sponsor of Roodepoort Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s (ROCCI) Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) Development Programme since 2008.
BAT South Africa’s major investment in ROCCI’s SMME Development Programme contributes towards creating jobs and growing South Africa’s economy.  It empowers aspirant emerging entrepreneurs with the necessary skills, knowledge and exposure to start or grow their businesses. 

This is done through continuous business skills training and development courses and workshops, mentorship programmes, exhibition opportunities, as well as an annual SMME Conference   The training subjects include everything from developing a persuasive business plan, through to accessing finance and marketing your small business.   The SMME Training Programme is offered exclusively through the Roodepoort and Durban Chambers of Commerce & Industry. 

If you would like to participate in the training programme, please contact ROCCI’s SMME Help Desk at Tel. 086 111 3304 or email smme@rocci.org for the training schedule.   

The training schedule is available on ROCCI’s website http://www.rocci.org/smmetraincalender.html  together with helpful toolkits, networking opportunities and other valuable information for SMME’s. 

ROCCI held a very successful full day SMME Conference on 30 March 2010 at Montecasino with top notch speakers addressing and motivating some 200 SMME in attendance.  The theme of the 2010 conference was “Sustainability of SMME South Africa”.   Speakers at the 2010 SMME Conference and gala dinner were as follows:

·  South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry, C.E.O., Neren Rau

·  British American Tobacco South Africa, Area Head of Communications & CSR, Itumeleng    Langeni

·  Clem Sunter, Scenario Plann, Futurologist and popular Author of  “The Mind of a Fox”        “The Games Foxes Play” and “Socrates & the Fox”, to name but a few.

·  Business Partners’ Regional General Manager, Chris Koen

·  Michael Jackson,  one of the best business to business presenters on the global    professional speaking circuit spoke on “Challenge of Change – Understanding today’s    business world”.

·  Konitek Training & Development CC, Helene Jonck

·  ZA Group Pty Ltd, C.E.O., Theresa Muller

·  Standard Bank, Franchising Manager, Rolene Govindasamy

·  SARS

·  The Covey Institute presented The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,  with the addition    of an 8th Habit

ROCCI presented each SMME delegate who participated in ROCCI/BAT South Africa’s 2009/10 training programme with a certificate.  SMME’s thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to network while gaining valuable information from the captains of industry.   The conference culminate with a gala dinner held at La Toscana Montecasino at which SMME’s were entertained by popular South African Comedian, David Kabuuka. 

ROCCI invites corporate companies to get involved with training, mentoring and supporting “growing businesses” in our country. Your support ensures sustainability of SMME’s in South Africa. Contact the SMME Project Director, Sakkie Stoltz at Tel 086 111 3304 or email smme@rocci.org.

SMME Training Partners

If you would like to participate in the training programme,  please contact ROCCI’s office for the training schedule and bookings.

Training is FREE to all ROCCI Members and referrals are most welcome.    ROCCI’s aim is to provide valuable quality training to all SMME’s for future sustainability.

Contact
ROCCI SMME Help Desk
Tel. 086 111 3304

Toolkit: Strategy e-Book - ZA Group

Basic marketing strategy for any business

Free download:

Guide to Writing a Business Plan   (Free download)

SMME Toolkit

Click here to visit the SME Toolkit, an interactive web-based resource centre enabling entrepreneurs to be informed of the latest SME news, local and global, to search for advice and solutions to challenges and to identify opportunities in the SME environment.

 The SME Toolkit offers a wide range of how-to articles, business forms, free business software, online training, self-assessment exercises, quizzes, and resources to help entrepreneursa and owners, and managers in emerging markets and developing countries start, finance, formalize, and grow their businesses.

 It’ s free and easy to use. Just search or browse the categories for the information you need.