ORT SA matches volunteer mentors to small businesses with the aim of providing skills development.
ORT SA spokesperson Marcelle Ravid said this new project involved 24 small business owners who would receive fundamental business instruction including marketing, budgeting and computer training for a period of 12 to 18 months.
Ravid said after the training the incumbents would each be allocated a mentor who would ‘walk’ with them as they grew their businesses.
“From experience, volunteer mentors are key to the success of the programme and so far they have given so much to younger, less experienced business owners, helping them grow to success.”
The organisation’s trainer and assessor, Saneliso Khumalo said the programme started from 25 August and will run until 25 February 2015.
“The programme is about taking an entrepreneur from nothing to something, after this, they will be able to manage their businesses and ensure sustainability,” he said.
He added that they also engaged other business stakeholders such as government agencies to provide entrepreneurship support to small business entrepreneur programmes.
“We want to ensure that there is support for small business development.”
Khumalo said the current programme included 19 aspiring and current women business owners.
