The Eskom Development Foundation’s various CSI programmes, which are centred on economic growth and development, aim to foster a culture of entrepreneurship, support small business development and sustainability, enhance robust economic activity and improve people’s lives. Their various programmes include:
- The Eskom Business Investment Competition
- Eskom Simama Ranta Entrepreneurship Education Competition
- The Eskom Contractors’ Academy
The Eskom Development Foundation is committed to increasing participation in the South African economy and helping to drive sustainable growth. Through programmes that focus on empowering small businesses and developing entrepreneurial education and skills, the Foundation contributes to job creation and poverty alleviation.
Statistics South Africa announced that, in the second quarter of 2016, South Africa’s gross domestic product grew by 3.3% quarter on quarter, and 0.6% year on year. These numbers, coupled with the economy’s overall performance in the last five years, prompted the McKinsey Global Institute to categorise South Africa as a “slow grower”, noting the country’s low economic growth and high unemployment rates as major deterrents to enhanced development, with a great deal of unrealised potential.
These worrying trends, amplified by the threat of a possible credit rating downgrade, further underpin the urgency for all sectors of society to make a concerted effort to help realise the potential that exists in this country.
The Eskom Development Foundation’s various CSI programmes, which are centred on economic growth and development, aim to foster a culture of entrepreneurship, support small business development and sustainability, enhance robust economic activity and improve people’s lives.
The Eskom Business Investment Competition
The annual Eskom Business Investment Competition (BIC) – one of the Foundation’s flagship programmes – was founded In 2007 to acknowledge and reward small businesses that are significantly contributing to economic growth by creating jobs and fighting poverty. The competition is open to registered black-owned small and medium enterprises that have been in operation for at least 24 months and fall into the manufacturing, construction and engineering, agriculture and agro-processing, and trade and services categories. Altogether, the competition offers R1.3 million in prize money to the winners, runners-up and finalists, to invest in their businesses.
The 2016 overall winner of the R150 000 grand prize was Nomcebo Sibanyoni, based in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga. Her business, Nomcebo Printers, offers a wide range of printing and graphic design services. From a humble start, focusing on a handful of small business customers, Nomcebo Printers has grown to a 20-person operation, and has secured a number of contracts within the local mining industry.
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: THE SMALL BUSINESS EXPO
All BIC finalists were invited to exhibit their businesses at the 2016 Small Business Expo, at the Ticketpro Dome
in Johannesburg. The Expo, staged in partnership with Thebe Reed Exhibitions, gives small and medium enterprises the opportunity to market themselves and interact with corporates, investors and potential clients. Beyond providing a venue to showcase and announce the winners of the BIC, this Expo partnership assists the Foundation to achieve its own goals of developing entrepreneurial skills and connecting prospective partners in small business.
Eskom Business Investment Competition – Overall Winner exhibits at Small Business Expo
Eskom Simama Ranta Entrepreneurship Education Competition
Rooted in its commitment to the development of young entrepreneurs, the annual Eskom Simama Ranta Entrepreneurship Education Competition is aimed at identifying and celebrating secondary schools that demonstrate leadership and successful implementation of entrepreneurship education that prepares learners to become job creators rather than job seekers. All South African intermediate and secondary schools are eligible to enter the competition. To qualify, schools must have an enterprise club that teaches learners the basics of running a business through practical application, while responding to their communities’ socioeconomic needs.
This year’s winner was Welkom High School from Lejweleputswa District in the Free State. Their club, WHS Yes Club, produces various decorative and useful items from papier mâchè and recycled goods. To raise funds, this highly motivated group hosts cake sales that easily raise R800 in one day. The school received a R100 000 cash prize for their club, and provincial winners each received a R50 000 prize for their clubs.
Eskom Simama Ranta Competion – Overall Winner Welkom High School
The Eskom Contractors’ Academy
Research shows that up to 80% of new small businesses fail within the first two years of operation. For most of these, failure results from a lack of basic business skills. In 2008, the Eskom Development Foundation partnered with Edupark (a non-profit organisation founded by the University of Limpopo) to found the Eskom Contractors’ Academy, with the aim of providing support to small business owners. The academy develops and empowers Eskom contractors and suppliers to become sustainable through skills development and job creation.
Academy graduates gain skills in developing business plans, budgets, safety management systems, safety, health, environment, risk and quality plans (SHERQ), project and people management, and tender contract processes. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants are awarded a certificate by the University of Limpopo. Since its inception, 1 014 students have enrolled and 991 students have successfully completed the training. One of the Academy’s beneficiaries and star graduates is Mikateko Jeleni from Malamulele in Limpopo. As a result of her training, Jeleni’s company Vukona Byayena Trading, which sets up electrical connections, grew from 10 to 42 employees, and monthly turnover increased from R300 000 to R1.5 million.
Eskom Contractors’ Academy graduates, 2015
AWARDS
The Eskom Contractors’ Academy has won various international awards for its work in socioeconomic development. Most recently, in September 2016, at the International Partnership Network in Oslo, Norway, the Academy was awarded both the Africa Gold and the Overall Global Thematic awards for entrepreneurship and enterprise skills development.
Image: From left to right: Steph Prinsloo, programme manager; Professor Jo Nel, CEO Edupark, Cecil Ramonotsi, acting CEO Eskom Development Foundation
Source: The Trialogue CSI Handbook 2016
