The iLembe Chamber launched its 16th Entrepreneur Programme on Saturday alongside a new online platform designed to help local businesses grow beyond the classroom.

The business accelerator programme, one of South Africa’s longest-running chamber-led entrepreneurship initiatives, will this year be delivered in partnership with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Business School, which joins as its new academic partner.

The seven-week programme combines facilitated learning, practical application of Alexander Osterwalder’s Business Model Canvas, one-on-one mentoring, corporate identity and brand development, and a competitive business development process. Graduates will receive a short course certificate on completion.

The launch also marked the introduction of VUKA, an online learning platform developed by the iLembe Chamber to provide entrepreneurs with consistent access to training materials, business planning resources and tools throughout the programme.

“Entrepreneurship cannot be developed in a classroom alone. Our vision with VUKA is to transform learning into an ongoing process of building stronger businesses,” said iLembe Chamber CEO Cobus Oelofse.

“We are not simply teaching business; we are building entrepreneurs who build businesses that build communities.”

Since its inception, the Entrepreneur Programme has supported nearly 400 entrepreneurs.

The programme has also been adopted by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) as part of its Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, with the iLembe Chamber managing its national roll-out in regions served by ACSA airports. It is currently delivered through ACSA in Nelson Mandela Bay and George, with the latest expansion through King Phalo Airport in Buffalo City in partnership with the Border-Kei Chamber of Commerce.

The launch event featured keynote speaker Gareth Arnold, a CEO, serial entrepreneur, endurance athlete and Entrepreneurs’ Organisation Accelerator coach, who spoke on entrepreneurship, leadership and resilience.