Chamber grows from strength to strength

The Entrepreneur programme, brainchild of the local Ilembe Chamber of Commerce, has spread its wings and has been launched throughout KZN.

The competition and accompanying training prgramme, is jointly supported by the KwaZulu-Natal department of economic development, tourism and environmental affairs and the private sector, on an equal cost-sharing basis. It has been launched by five regional chambers – Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Zululand and the KZN Youth Chamber.

The Entrepreneur programme was initiated by the Ilembe chamber with the aim of identifying and providing entrepreneurs and owners of micro-businesses with a grounding to develop their businesses to a sustainable level.

Programme finalists are each supported through mentorship by a chamber-accredited mentor. At the end of the programme the contestants will be equipped with a business plan to serve as a guide to managing and developing sustainable businesses. They will also receive a certificate of attendance to a UKZN and MIT endorsed program and receive prize money for business marketing. They a will also be able to showcase their businesses at individual chamber exhibitions.

Ilembe chamber chief executive officer Cobus Oelofse said they see this roll out as an endorsement of the work the chamber has done over the past three years.

“The feedback and relevance of the chamber’s approach to enterprise development and SMME and entrepreneurial business support is very positive and encouraging,” said Oelofse.