Picture this – twelve new but fully functional businesses run by highly-trained and motivated entrepreneurs. With a stream of work guaranteed from one of the biggest corporate procurement and supply chains in South Africa.
Is it Vanderbijlpark in the days before con artist Marietjie siphoned off millions in life savings and blighted the lives of so many in the Vaal?
No, it’s something that about 130 candidates have applied for in an innovative entrepreneurship programme developed and launched by ArcelorMittal (AMSA) in the Vaal – but only 12 will be selected, according to reliable sources.
Such was the interest that AMSA extended the application date, sources informed VaalWeekblad.
The specially-selected 12 will not only receive intensive business training but will be housed in a full production, training and support hub that AMSA is establishing in a Vanderbijlpark industrial area close to its head office and largest steel plant in the group.
The hub will then be integrated into AMSA’s multi-billion rand procurement and supply chain and virtually be guaranteed of business with Africa’s largest steelmaker, thus largely avoiding the traditional pitfalls and risks associated with entrepreneurial programmes.AMSA last year launched with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) an intensive entrepreneur and enterprise development programme starting in the Vaal with its two steel plants. If successful the programme could be extended to Newcastle, Saldanha and Pretoria, where AMSA also has plants.
The programme is for AMSA a unique blend of social responsibility, developing local employment opportunities and signals recognition of the fact that AMSA is expanding its social responsibility role directly investing in the communities within which it operates.
The entrepreneur and enterprise development programme was developed and is being implemented by Freddie Swart, Group Transformation Manager of AMSA.
