Entrepreneurs gain valuable business knowledge

The Prospecton Business Forum (PBF), which represents business from the Port of Durban to Umkomaas, recently held a session on enterprise and supplier development. The session was held in relation to companies’ B-BBEE scorecards – an event which has led to the need for another session to provide more clarity on the issue.

Enterprise and supplier development is a priority element assessed on the revised B-BBEE scorecard under the title ‘Optimising your company enterprise and supplier development impact and maximising your B-BBEE score in the context of supplier diversity’.

The event was held on Thursday, 18 May and hosted by Toyota SA Motors at its communications centre in Prospecton.

It was attended by some 94 representatives of 65 companies, some from as far as Gauteng, indicating the importance of the topic. The presenter, Gary Joseph is the CEO of the South African Supplier Diversity Council, a non-profit, internationally-linked council with global experience in enterprise and supplier development and supply chain transformation.

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“His understanding, insight and experience and that of the SASDC was evident throughout the session, where the role of the procurement and enterprise development executive was unpacked together with their intricate challenges faced by executives in achieving company targets,” said PBF chairman, Mark van Wyk.

“The impact of internal buying decisions on outcomes was also considered with attendees nodding as they resonated with the examples used. Case studies on how procurement decisions impact outcomes and achievement of targets were also provided and questions addressed during the presentation. The overall comments and feedback after the event were positive and many attendees found the session helpful, providing greater clarity.”

Van Wyk said concerns were expressed around the targets set in the revised scorecard and the challenges that companies are experiencing in achieving these targets. There was a view that more time was required and Joseph offered to facilitate a more in-depth session on invitation, as it was felt that many more companies could benefit from such a session.

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PBF will host this future event when sufficient numbers of attendees indicate their intention to attend. Non-members may also attend such an event.

Buyers, procurement executives and enterprise and supplier development practitioners or managers can contact the forum to register their desire to attend such a session, and request information on membership of the forum by emailing Van Wyk at chair@prospectonbusinessforum.com.

PBF thanks Toyota SA Motors for hosting this event.