New boost for green enterprises

Partnering with the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, the Fetola Just Add Green SME accelerator programme will be launching in Gauteng in August.

The pilot programme is the start of a long-term national strategy which will engage government, corporates and other role players who are interested in supporting SA’s emerging green economy.

Fetola’s Just Add Green initiative aims to stimulate and strengthen emerging businesses to become environmentally sustainable suppliers to corporates, and successful businesses in their own right.

“Interest in the green economy is rapidly increasing among citizens who recycle, reduce energy usage and strive to eat healthier food.

“There is also a growing awareness in sustainable practices in South Africa from government, the corporate sector and finance houses alike, making this a timely initiative,” said Fetola’s director, Catherine Wijnberg.

According to Wijnberg, Just Add Green SMEs will be linked to corporate supply chains that are serious about sourcing value-adding suppliers, and keen to add green, eco-friendly or organic elements to their bottom-line reporting. The initiative provides opportunities for corporate partners who would like to support high-potential SMEs ripe for further investment, to satisfy both their BB-BEE performance targets (including enterprise and supplier development targets) and environmental performance targets.

Using a holistic and proven business support model developed by Fetola, SMEs will be supported in their businesses to prepare them for rapid growth and, where appropriate, entry into the corporate supply chain.

The programme will offer training, mentorship, personalized consulting support and access to business tools, templates and resources.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of SMEs approaching us to join our acceleration programmes, seeking long-term solutions to growing pains such as lack of systems, costing and pricing challenges, poor sales, staff productivity problems, low profitability and the like,” said Chantal de Kock, national E&SD programme manager at Fetola.

“That is why we have partnered with the JP Morgan Chase Foundation as part of their drive to stimulate entrepreneurship and job creation in SA.

“In the past, SMEs on our programmes have achieved significant results, including access to new markets, average growth of 65 percent per annum and most importantly, a significant 94 percent long-term survival rate, making these programmes a viable option for elite entrepreneurs nationally.

”Small businesses based in Gauteng that have a green sector or sustainability focus are invited to apply.

Preference is given to black-owned enterprises, but all viable enterprises that have been in operation for at least 9 months are invited to apply.

There are 25 places available in the pilot phase.

The application process opens on July 21 and closes on August 17.

Interested candidates are invited to visit www.fetola.co.za for more information on how to apply, or contact Amanda Dinan on 086 111 1690 or via email at adinan@fetola.co.za

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