SMMEs

We work with corporates and public institutions to create bespoke ESD and CSI solutions and offer soft skills programs to sharpen entrepreneurial-culture resulting in operational efficiencies.

GROWING SMMEs

As an academic institution with deep-rooted community ties, UWC through the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) is privileged to play a role in empowering budding entrepreneurs and existing business in the Western Cape. To date the CEI has trained and supported more than 2000 business owners.

The success of SMMEs has the potential to make a substantial impact on economic growth and job creation in our communities and through strategic partnerships with the Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), ABSA and other partners we have and are continuing to roll our interventions to make SMMEs more competitive and contribute to economic growth.

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Day 1 Day 3
Entrepreneurial behaviours, skills and competencies

Self-reflection exercises

Business growth and economic development

Links between SME growth and economic development

Enablers of SME growth & Key SME success factors

Drivers of innovation in SMEs

Theory and enablers of innovation in SMEs

Planning for innovation

Innovative business models

Sales and Marketing

Basics of competitive advantage

The impact of industry research and knowledge. Theory of competition and basic business level competition

Industry analysis using Porter’s model

Resources and capabilities required for enterprise growth

Classifying resources and understanding types of capabilities and developing new capabilities including product development and market development

Generating leads and increasing sales

through traditional and using new digital marketing platforms such as ARIBA and networking with Business Organisations.

Day 2 Day 4
Human Resources and Operational Management

Leadership – Staff motivation

Building relevant and supportive HR practices

HR legal frameworks

Importance of delegation, delegation techniques

Forming teams – creating team purpose

Delegating authority and managing team leaders

Controlling team leader performance / Building team cohesion

Incentives and accountability / Line authority and responsibility

Managing operations and establishing internal systems

Business Strategy and Financial Management

Getting to grips with business and revenue models

Funding models and access to finance for SMEs invite private sector funding organisations

Using business data and financial records to measure and improve overall business performance

Developing a business dashboard with gauges for every aspect of the business to measure and improve the performance of the business

Pulling together all the strands and developing action plans for each business