This week, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, joined some of Cape Town’s small business leaders to celebrate their participation in the Smart Supplier Programme.
This marks the programme’s seventh year and saw the City partner with Smart Procurement World who facilitated the initiative.
‘Platforms such as this are crucial to small businesses because they provide knowledge and an understanding of the skills necessary to deal with challenges that can stifle growth. The first phase of the Smart Supplier Programme kicks off with 150 vendors who go through various issues concerned with business development. From that, 40 are selected and provided with access to markets and introductions to buyers and other new opportunities,’ said Alderman Vos.
Speaking at the event, Alderman Vos reminded the entrepreneurs that small businesses were essential to economic growth, innovation and job creation. He also urged the private sector to step up their efforts in working with small businesses.
‘It has been indicated that the private sector spends three times more on procurement than the public sector. There is clearly greater potential for procuring opportunities for small businesses in the private sector.
‘I’m deeply passionate about Cape Town’s economic prosperity which is dependent on each and every one of us. Each person is a link in the chain of our economy. With small business owners such as yourselves absorbing the bulk of employees, you are important links in that chain. Improving small business capacity and competitiveness is crucial. A programme such as this one provides a wonderful platform for big business to engage with small business and other stakeholders on their precise requirements within the context of procurement and on the identified constraining factors of procuring from small businesses,’ he said.
The Smart Supplier programme is just one of several initiatives from the City government that supports entrepreneurs with the skills and information needed to grow their businesses.
The Business Helpdesk hosts numerous workshops including the Supplier Matters Day which takes place every Wednesday. The helpdesk also runs a skills development platform for the building industry with construction training workshops for contractors. These sessions are scheduled to take place every month at the Hub.
For Capetonians who can’t make it to the workshops in the city centre, the helpdesk hosts online training.
‘Our mission to make Cape Town the easiest place in Africa to do business has caused a ripple effect across the metro as shown by the 279 000 new jobs created in the last year in the Mother City. We will continue pushing ahead with projects and programmes that help to grow businesses, jobs and our economy,’ said Alderman Vos.
To sign up for one of the development programmes, go to https://www.investcapetown.com/news-events/business-events/. For data-free access to the virtual sessions, attendees can use the SmartCape services in public libraries or go to one of the 100 City-run buildings in the metro with free Wi-Fi access. Find out more here: https://www.capetown.gov.za/local%20and%20communities/get-online/Public-Wifi-Zones/public-wifi-across-the-city
Contact The Business Hub team on business.support@capetown.gov.za or +27 21 417 4043 with your business-related queries.
The enterprises that were certified in this year’s Smart Supplier Programme were:
- ADONAI PROJECTS
- AZ Building and Project Management
- Blackie Flooring – no website
- Blue Fossil Energy (Pty) Ltd
- Conquest Maintenance Services – no
- DWD Construction – no
- Dynamic NDT and Inspection Services
- Famla Enterprises
- Fatyela Environmental Works
- Gia Grazie
- Innovative Energy Projects
- Innovative Technology South Africa
- Intsika Health &Safety Services
- iWiFi Techkom Pty Ltd
- Karisani
- Lathotha Group
- LESLIE’S GIFTS CC
- LW Recycling and Trade
- Meraki Property Solutions (Pty) Ltd
- Muhan Energy (Pty) Ltd
- Neat nature cleaning and solutions
- Passionate Tea
- Powerful Virtual P.A. (Recruitment, Training & Network)
- Pro Synergy Enterprises Pty Ltd
- PROUDTALENT (Pty) Ltd
- Quadrant Risk Services (Pty) Ltd
- Ranken Developments
- Safe and Eco Driving Pty Ltd
- Sasanje Investment
- Seed 2 Harvest
- Soapbox Films
- TDWC GroupY
