PROJECTS

E4 ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (ICT START-UP)

About the programme

Tushiyah in partnership with a TVET College’s CfERI unit in the KwaZulu Natal aimed to identify 15 graduates from and around the iLembe KZN region to participate in the Tushiyah Emerge (ICT Start-up) program. Of the database of potential participants who were invited to apply to the program, ten were anticipated to complete the program. The key objective was to build on the acquired skills and develop new businesses that can contribute to the township & rural economy and reduce unemployment.

An Industry Expert was allocated to the participants to support their individual business skill requirements which was also aligned to an online Business Management Training programme. The Emerge program aimed at assisting start-ups to crystalise their business idea & model, support with compliance requirements and skills that will equip them in the business world. The objectives of this programme were to provide support that will assist in:

• Building an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of formalizing and enable formalization and compliance.
• Developing skills to identify and access market opportunities, enable greater business positioning, and promote their offerings.
• Expose individuals to models that can drive operational efficiencies and productivity.

What Tushiyah did

Initial activities began in January 2024 with the invitation design and publishing the “Call for Application”. Tushiyah engaged with its partners and potential stakeholders in the iLembe region to assist by sharing the invite to their databases. The invite reached organizations such as the Mandeni Municipality, KwaDukuza Municipality, Enterprise iLembe, Umfolozi TVET College and the Moses Kotane Institute. Tushiyah also marketed the Programme to its databases and through its social media platforms.

The “Call for Applications’ invite closed on the 15th of February 2024 with 46 applications received. The applications were shortlisted to 18 potential candidates and appointments were made to meet face to face with the shortlisted candidates during the first week of March 2024 to do business pitches and a formal onboarding. 6 candidates attended the business pitching sessions and were onboarded. 3 didn’t show up, 4 didn’t respond to communication, 3 attended but did not meet the criteria, 2 decided to withdraw from the programme due to other opportunities. The call for applications were extended, to open the programme to a broader audience, to include potential candidates who met the criteria but wasn’t based in the iLembe region. 6 more qualified with 4 onboarded in March 2024.

14 business management skills training topics were delivered with supporting mentorship sessions post each training session.

Access to Business Development Support

1. Training: 14 Business Management Skills Training Topics were delivered with an average of 60% attendance with participants accessing session recordings for the ones missed. One-on-One contact sessions began in April 2024 kicking off with the first groundwork sessions and continued up to the end of September 2024

• Topic 1: Innovative Thinking The Innovative Thinking module is designed for Entrepreneurs in the start-up phase of their business and aimed at giving the learners a fundamental understanding of the importance of innovation in business success. The participants gained knowledge of specific techniques for releasing creativity in the development of a viable business venture. It also addressed the behavioural (psycho-social) barriers that contribute to failure in starting and sustaining an enterprise.
• Topic 2: Business Feasibility The Feasibility Study Module is designed for Entrepreneurs in the start-up process of their businesses, with a call for the capability to identify great business opportunities, using the feasibility study as a guiding tool.
• Topic 3: Self Mastery & Personal Productivity The Self-Mastery & Personal Productivity Module is designed for Entrepreneurs in the start-up process of their businesses, with a need to upskill in Personal Mastery and prepare to successfully lead a team.
• Topic 4: Business Model Canvas The Business Model Canvas Module is designed for Entrepreneurs requiring an understanding of the components of a business model canvas, and how to complete a business model canvas for their business.
• Topic 5: Artificial Intelligence The “AI”, Module is designed for Entrepreneurs requiring knowledge on AI tools, where to get them, and how to use them to improve their businesses.
• Topic 6: Marketing Opportunities The Achieving Success in Marketing Module is designed for Entrepreneurs to define their positioning in the market, and strengthen their position statement, using applicable marketing tools.
• Topic 7: Admin & Record Keeping The Admin and Record Keeping Module is designed for Entrepreneurs in the intermediate phase of their businesses. With the focus on building sustainable systems and processes towards stable business growth.
• Topic 8: Pricing Principals The Pricing Strategy Module is designed for Entrepreneurs requiring skills to increase the development and implementation of a pricing strategy that is aligned to the business strategy of their company, also to improve and enhance their ability to access market opportunities
• Topic 9: Contract Management The Contracts Management Module is designed for Entrepreneurs in the start-up, and intermediate phase of their businesses, requiring skills to identify key contracts and terms, negotiate contractual agreements, and manage contract lifecycles.
• Topic 10: Operations Management The Operations Management Module is designed for Entrepreneurs as an introduction to the design of an operations layout, how to apply effective operations scheduling, resource management and quality management.
• Topic 11: Planning for HR The Planning for Human Resources course is designed for SME owners who face challenges to the company’s development due to HR-related difficulties.
• Topic 12: Financial Skills The Strengthening your financial Skills Module is designed for Entrepreneurs with growing businesses, to capacitate them to better manage their daily financial transactions and expand their business.
• Topic 13: Operationalise your Business The “Operationalize your Business”, Module is designed for Entrepreneurs to implement an action plan on areas identified for improvement and to review and enhance current resource quality and management.
• Topic 14: Financing a New Venture The Financing a New Venture module is designed for Entrepreneurs in the start-up phase of their business and aimed at giving the learners tools, skills, and processes to test the viability of business ideas and opportunities.

2. Business Advisory, Mentorship and Coaching: The Tushiyah Business Advisor had monthly and in some instances bi-weekly engagements with the committed participants from March 2024 up until September 2024. All mentoring sessions concluded with the closing out of all milestones as mapped out in each entrepreneur’s development plan.

3. Access to Markets: Participants were supported with identifying market opportunities during the mentoring sessions and have identified different opportunities to attend networking events and exhibitions. Three events were shared with participants during the programme period:

• The Business Show: Africa 2024 (4, 5 September 2024) Programme participant Zodwa Matshika, owner of Stick in Solutions showcased her business at the above event. She has been supported by the business advisor on a marketing strategy to get maximum exposure.
• Business Partners: Business Breakfast (12 September 2024) Participants were advised and invited for the Business Partners Breakfast Event which took place in KZN. The host presented their product offerings as well as gave guests the opportunity to connect / network with businesses.
• Tushiyah Certification & Networking event (9 October 2024) Tushiyah hosted an event to formally close off the programme in October 2024. Participants received training attendance & completion certificates and got an opportunity to pitch their businesses to potential partners & funders as well network with them.

4. Specialised Needs Fund: All participants were assessed by the Business Advisor on the Specialised Funding requirements and their readiness for funding. 2 participants qualified for funding and were supported. All supporting documents to assist the 2 Participants were received, reviewed, presented and qualified.

One participant required grant funding support for marketing material and her business online presence. While the other required purchase order load funding to be paid back when the supply has been closed and payment received. The other participants in the programme were not ready for specialized support and it was recommended that the balance of the specialized fund be allocated to a fund for future support to these and other ICT MSMEs. These funds can be accessed when the current programme participants are ready to take the next step in their business.

5. Certification Event Tushiyah partnered with the Umfolozi TVET College to host a Networking event on the 9th of October 2024 in Mandeni, KZN. The intention of the event was to invite potential funders or partners to network and link up with the participants. The event marked the culmination of Tushiyah’ s efforts to support and empower MSMEs in the ICT industry. Participants were also given an opportunity to share their testimonials of the programme and to pitch and showcase their businesses to the audience.

At the event, participants were awarded certificates of completion and attendance; 3 Participants received certificates of completion and 5 for attendance. Various stakeholder representatives and guests attended such as NBI and the Umfolozi TVET College. Other guests included the Programme sponsor e4 and Tushiyah team members.

What was the outcome?

Participants were requested to fill out and submit post programme evaluation and feedback after the certification ceremony. Each participant was asked to rate various areas of their experience on the programme. The information below represents the direct benefit gained by individuals & their businesses in respect to the categories evaluated, and the impact to them as a result of the programme.

From the 10 participants in the programme, 7 responses were received, equating to an acceptable sample of 70%. The Post Programme Evaluation data is obtained from participants who have completed the programme. Various indicators are used to measure the success of the programme and their experience during support of increase and value of increase in Sales, the value of the programme influencing the increase in turnover, employment, new contracts and their experience with the support of applying for business funding.

Participating enterprises had the following to say:

• Value from training: Exceeded my expectations.
• Value from coaching: Exceeded my expectations.
• Value from specialised support sponsored: Exceeded my expectations.

Testimonials

We have received a heart-warming testimonial from our programme’s own Zodwa Matshika, who speaks about the path she’s taken in her business, and how she’s benefitted from her development journey. Click on the link below to watch the recording.

View the Recording

Articles

Click on the link below to read the article for this project.

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