The EDA is a pioneering and stimulating environment for small growing enterprises; building and regenerating entrepreneurial spirit amidst a culture of innovation and social change. Their work extends across the entrepreneurial spectrum to include women, social, green, youth, and township entrepreneurs in informal and more formal, growing businesses.
The Academy offers clients and participants value through the various delivery structures. The Entrepreneurship Development Academy (EDA) is a unit within GIBS focused on supporting entrepreneurs.
The Academy’s work extends across the entrepreneurial spectrum to include women, social, green, youth, and township entrepreneurs in informal and more formal, growing businesses. Through dynamic, tailor-made and practical business and entrepreneurship education, thought leadership and research, the Academy’s work encourages growth and sustainability in the more sophisticated sectors like retail, ICT, construction, engineering as well as the less formal sectors like spaza shops. The offering spans across the business lifecycle and includes those interested in pursuing a social entrepreneurial cause all in favour of growing sustainable businesses, creating further employment and social impact.
The Academy is built on the premise that entrepreneurial mind-set and attitude is as important as technical skill especially in the South African climate where entrepreneurial activity is said to be low for a developing nation.
Since inception in 2012, the Academy has trained over 1,700 entrepreneurs. These people and their businesses generate over R1.7 billion in revenue, and a majority show consistent growth in revenue and jobs.
The Academy offers clients and participants value through the following delivery structures:
- Groundwork Programme (for start-up businesses) and Growth Advancement Programme (for scale-up businesses;)
- Mentorship and coaching for entrepreneurs;
- Structured programme for Social Entrepreneurs;
- Short programmes and workshops;
- Strengthening the eco-system for entrepreneurship through events, discussions and debates.
Source details: Gordon Institute of Business Science (University of Pretoria), https://www.gibs.co.za