Excellent and accessible location

A key element of our success is location. Our branches  are situated in such a way that they are very close to a number of relevant business service providers. This co-location creates a one-stop shop of business support services including our own.

Core Services

• We offer one-on-one consultations – access to confidential consultations with our trained staff about the business development process.

• We present a structured series of ongoing progressive business skills workshops. Click here to look for appropriate training for your business in your region)

• We participate in and offer to our clients an ongoing series of industry-specific networking forums with sector specialists

• We directly connect clients to relevant business opportunities

• We provide access to computer facilities, the Internet and business research materials

• We pride ourselves on our quick response to client queries

• We support our own services with further referral to a wide range of additional service agencies from a comprehensive directory of business support organisations. (Click here for some useful links) 

• We have comprehensive client-tracking processes and monitoring of business impact and progress
  Our research into strategies and interventions that impact the SMME environment, help us to develop further services and advise our clients regarding up-to-date strategies.

More initiatives

At The Business Place we are constantly broadening our understanding of the SMME environment and we develop new strategies and systems to adapt to the changing environment and the needs of SMMEs. Here are some new developments and initiatives that have been adopted recently or are being developed:

• The Opportunity Exchange:  Many established businesses lack relevant industry-specific  information or knowledge on how to access available opportunities. The Opportunity Exchange creates a relevant forum for clients in key sectors such as construction, tourism, arts and crafts, women in business issues and other. This connects entrepreneurs to relevant information and support from our broad network of sector leaders.

• Enterprise Development Initiative:The Business Place has formulated a strategy to link our clients directly to business opportunities within key industries. This programme enables The Business Place to form strategic partnerships with leading private and public sector companies that are interested in supporting small business.

• Accounting Mentorship Programme (AMPS): Recognizing that a large number of clients lack proper bookkeeping systems, The Business Place has set up a programme to help clients develop a proper computerized bookkeeping system through a “learning-by-doing” approach. During the 8 four-hour training sessions, clients are helped to set up their own bookkeeping system. The programme also links each client to a mentor in order to transfer necessary computer literacy skills.

• SMME Loan Fund: The Business Place is connected to a fund offering loans between R 25 000 to R 500 000. An intermediary agency serves as a portfolio manager working with a loan committee to identify reasonable clients for this special programme.

• Regional Centre for SMME Support Excellence:  Our vision is  to become a recognized international standard of quality support to SMMEs, and help consolidate some of the practices implemented in our sector. The Business Place  wants to establish an SMME Support Sector “Learning Academy” to serve as an international centre for  learning, research and methodologies focused on best practices in SMME support.