This week, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, joined some of Cape Town’s small business leaders to celebrate their participation in the Smart Supplier Programme.
The Smart Supplier programme is just one of several initiatives from the City government that supports entrepreneurs with the skills and information needed to grow their businesses. This marks the programme’s sixth year and saw the City partner with Commerce Edge South Africa who facilitated the initiative.
‘This initiative supported 262 (146 in 2021 and 116 in 2022) Cape Town-based vendors with the development of their businesses. From those, 60 (30 each year) were selected and provided with access to markets and introductions to buyers and other new opportunities,’ said Alderman Vos.
Speaking at the celebratory event, Alderman Vos reminded the entrepreneurs that small businesses, who employ the bulk of South African workers, are critical to economic growth and job creation.
‘You are the engine room of innovation and opportunities. The challenges we, and more importantly, our determined SMMEs, have faced over the last few years have made stark the work that we must do immediately to set them – and our communities and economy – on a better, more prosperous path,’ he said.
Participating entrepreneurs went through a series of sessions after which the top 30 of each year (some of the trainees) were then given a buyer pitch video to be used in their businesses’ marketing material and dedicated one-year access to a market linkage programme introducing them to regional and national corporate buyers.
‘I hope you understand the value that each of you bring to your community and country. Whatever you do with your newly acquired skills, I hope you choose Cape Town because it has over 20 active incubators and accelerators, 25 co-working spaces to get down to business and because the City government has platforms, partnerships and initiatives to bring more investors so that more opportunities open up,’ Alderman Vos said.
To sign up for one of the development programmes, go to https://www.investcapetown.com/news-events/business-events/.
For data-free access to the virtual sessions, attendees can use the SmartCape services in public libraries or visit one of the 100 City-run buildings in the metro with free Wi-Fi access. Find out more here: https://www.capetown.gov.za/local%20and%20communities/get-online/Public-Wifi-Zones/public-wifi-across-the-city
Contact The Business Hub team on business.support@capetown.gov.za or +27 21 417 4043 with your business-related queries.
Source: City Of Cape Town