Cape Winelands District Municipality
South Africa
Western Cape
Sector
Development Finance
As a response to the growing socio-economic disparities in the region, the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) initiated the Small Business Support Development Programme (SBSDP) in 2004 as a means of providing local citizens with an opportunity to participate in the mainstream economy.
The business development and support programme is underpinned by the local economic development strategy and growth and development strategy of the Cape Winelands District Municipality.
The Cape Winelands District municipality showed its commitment to work hand-in-hand with burgeoning entrepreneurs – forming strategic partnerships. The Cape Winelands District Municipality has entered into an agreement with Small Enterprise and Development Agency (SEDA) to provide business support to entrepreneurs within the District.
The small business support programme gives support in the form of training and skills development amongst small businesses, business planning and development support as well as mentorship.
Aim
The aim of this intervention is to provide the necessary capacity to small enterprises and entrepreneurs in the Cape Winelands District, to ensure growth and sustainability. The goal is to grow the economy in order to create jobs and eradicate poverty by training new entrepreneurs and ones that have been operating largely informally to sustain and become viable entities.
Key objectives of the Small Business Support Programme:
The Small Business Support Programme was initiated with the aim of achieving the following objectives:
- To facilitate job creation within the wider Cape Winelands District Municipality economy
- To promote the creation and growth of enterprises owned and managed by small business entrepreneurs
- To facilitate the development of skills among business owners and employees as a mechanism to enhance sustainable business practices and development
- To assist start-up, emerging and established businesses with enterprise planning and development support and
- To develop business support structures in order to cater for the varying needs of the area specific businesses, investors and other parties.
Business Pillars
In order to achieve the abovementioned objectives, an implementation plan which was to be informed by three strategic pillars was developed. The three pillars comprised of:
- Training and Skills Development Programme
- Business Planning and Development Support
- Business Mentoring and Handholding Programme
The core of support was identified as the need to assist SMMES with drafting of proper business plans as well as complying with the regulations of the business world. After the formalization of the businesses, the Cape Winelands District Municipality was faced with a task of equipping the emerging entrepreneurs with the necessary skills, at the same time helping them forge alliances or networks with each other.
Enquiries regarding the Small Business Support Programme can be directed to:
- Ms Gayle Daniels: telephone 021 888 5151 or gayle@capewinelands.gov.za
- Mr. Rhian van Wyk: telephone 021 888 5146 or rhian@capewinelands.gov.za
- Ms Prudence January: telephone 021 888 5134 or prudence@capewinelands.gov.za
