The second biggest small business week in KwaZulu-Natal was hailed a success.
Concluding last Friday, the fifth annual Newcastle Small Business Week acted as a doorway, linking residents with insights and information from the business sector.
The past half-decade has paved the way for a different 2016 event.
Organisers and partners of the event explained next year’s Small Business Week might include more breakaway sessions and more practical components.
As it is, the event is purported to be good overall.
“The amount of knowledge available is tremendous. We’ve reached all our daily targets,” explained Laurence Short from the Newcastle Municipality.
Fellow municipality employee, Anesh Thulasee said feedback forms were provided to attendees, and the response was great.
On the first day, for example, more than 500 residents arrived at the Blackrock Casino marquee.
Asked for her highlights of the Small Business Week, Gugu Emam from the Small Enterprise Training Agency listed many.
“The Small Enterprise Finance Agency, SARS, Anglo American partnered with us. The mayor also attended to open the event.”
Looking to the future, Mr Short, Mr Thulasee and Mrs Emam touched on the spillover effect of the Small Business Week, in particular through bringing residents of KZN to Newcastle.
At present, the Newcastle Small Business Week is the second biggest in the province.
“This came to be after many months of planning. The Newcastle Municipality and SEDA made it work,” the team proclaimed.
