The Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry identified the need to become involved in the development of emerging businesses in the local area, which would have a twofold purpose, to stimulate the local economy and to assist in developing emerging business people and this led to the establishment of the Springs Business Linkage Centre (BLC) during 1999.
Eight corporate companies immediately decided to become involved in sponsoring the centre which included the then Springs Municipality.
The BLC assists large companies to identify small emerging businesses that are able to provide services to the large companies. The centre has to ensure that the emerging companies comply with all the necessary statutory requirements.
Fred Jones took over the reigns of the BLC during 2001 and has been involved ever since.
He says that he has a passion to help people to understand more about business and to see them become successful.
As things progressed, the need for business training was identified.
Fred adds it was then that a partnership was developed with the Ekurhuleni East College for Further Education and Training.
who contributed in developing the business training modules.
Impala Platinum Refineries agreed to sponsor the development of the programme.
Fred says that during the first five years there were a total of 14 companies that sponsored the BLC, but due to changes some of the companies moved to other parts of Gauteng and no longer contribute towards the centre.
Currently there are only seven companies involved in the running of the BLC.
Fred says that the Metro is also involved in the BLC.
The success of the BLC has not gone unnoticed, as the metro duplicated the programme in eight different townships.
In 2011, companies requested the BLC to registered as a non-profitable organisation as this would enable them to report the contribution for Enterprise development as a tax deductable expense.
“We are waiting for the final approval of SARS in this regard,” says Fred.
There are a number of success stories of small business that have developed and are now making a contribution towards the economy.
Takalani Moleya, a man who does forensic verification and security, finds lost children and does investigative work for organisations, is a challenging other SMMEs that have become a success to help the centre.
KwaThema resident Derrick Vilakazi, who runs his own garden services, is one of the many success stories.
“I was introduced to the BLC through a TV programme called Vukuzenzela, that requested the BLC to assist me in establishing and growing my business,” says Derrick.
The BLC introduced him and three others to the Springs Clean Project, but after careful consideration the companies decided to get Derrick on board.
“He now runs the project of cleaning the Paul Kruger Highway, one of the main entrances into Springs, Industria Road, part of Springs West Road as well as Tonk Meter Way right down to the N17, ” says Fred
Derrick was also given a contract at Carnival City to maintain the entrance road to Carnival City.
He now employs 14 people on a permanent basis.
The BLC is looking for more local companies to become involved in contributing towards the running of the BLC and who are serious about enterprise development and stimulating the local economy.
The BLC offers a range of support services to entrepreneurs which include business plan and company profile development, training services, business advice, company registration and BBBEEE certificates.
After 12 years of running the BLC, Fred is still as passionate about developing small businesses as when he started.
