New business opportunities

2007-01-17

If you want to start your own business, 2007 could be your year. The Palabora Foundation has launched Business Development, a non-profit programme that will help many previously disadvantaged people in the Greater Ba-Phalaborwa area to realise their dreams.

Although The Palabora Foundation has been helping small businesses to start and grow for many years, the emphasis has been on theory rather than practice. The launch of Business Development bridges this gap and offers hope to those who would previously have struggled to take the first steps, of simply setting up their business and acquiring a bank account, complying with regulations and so on.

By providing training and mentoring, Business Development enables local people to start their own businesses, whatever their level of education or business skills. According to Programme Head, Jenni Fleming, there are plenty of people with great business ideas who simply need a helping hand to reach success. “I was at the bank this morning, helping one of our clients to organise a bank loan”, says Jenni. “Tomorrow I might be helping someone to write a business plan or going through their budget with them. We don’t do the work for people, but we guide them through the processes and explain how the business world works”.

Training courses include subjects such as business management, budgeting, customer care, book-keeping and tendering procedures. However, advice and mentoring covers every aspect of starting and running a business, from discussing an idea to maintaining good relations with customers. “In the past I’ve had to teach a client to sign his name instead of a cross”, says Jenni. “We really do help people at every level.”

Being run and partly funded by The Palabora Foundation, the programme has direct links to Palabora Mining Company, giving new BEE companies a head start in complying with the mine’s requirements for tendering. However, the programme also creates links and encourages networking with other local companies. Further funding comes from the government’s Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the European Union.

Jenni Fleming is clearly excited by the possibilities offered by Business Development. “People must just come talk to us!” she says. The Foundation’s previous programmes, the Enterprise Information Centre (EIC) and Business Linkage Advice Centre (BLAC) have helped local people already, but Jenni is looking forward to even greater milestones with the new programme. She says that her plans for the programme’s future are confidential, but she is looking closely at improving market opportunities outside the mining sector.
Business Development runs from offices both in Namakgale and at PMC, but Jenni stressed that she is able to meet people in Phalaborwa town as well if necessary, recognising that many potential clients have limited transport and may be working in town. She encourages anyone who is interested to give her a call on 072 212 0676.

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