Innovative info centre boosts Alex's entrepreneurs

With the launch of an innovative entrepreneurial centre in Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, entrepreneurs living there now access to their own cluster of services and advisors for small business development.

The opening of The Business Place Alex follows the success of The Business Place since its inception in the Johannesburg CBD six years ago. There are now seven such operations in Johannesburg, Kliptown, King William’s Town, Cape Town, Philippi and Gaborone.

In a recent study conducted by Mike Herrington, author of the Global Entrepreneurial Monitor GEM report, found that, “The concept of The Business Place is an excellent one, as it is the only one-stop-shop operation of its kind in South Africa.”

Last year in three of the Business Place centres alone, more than 23,000 people sought advice or assistance. Another 8,000 visitors have come through the doors nationally so far this year. The Johannesburg Information Centre sees over 2,200 entrepreneurs each month and increasingly they are over the age of 35, demonstrating that the centres are not only servicing the youth. Over and above this, nearly 3,000 clients have made use of the internet and typing facilities on offer for research and document generation.

The Business Place in Alexandra is a partnership with the Alexandra Renewal Project, funded largely by the Provincial Department of Housing, City of Joburg and Investec.

The centre offers the following services and networking opportunities to local entrepreneurs:

One-on-one consultations on the next practical step in starting or expanding your business;

Workshops designed to empower entrepreneurs to make informed decisions regarding their businesses;

Business training that equips the entrepreneur to manage stock, pricing and basic financials of their businesses;

Internet access and typing computers;

Free Legal Services by Jowell Glyn and Marais for business related advice and

Networking sessions for entrepreneurs representing different industries.

“Investec initially conceived and funded the centre for entrepreneurs when it began to focus and align its social investment initiatives with its culture and business model,” explained Investec Group Corporate Affairs Executive Carole Mason.

“Starting a Business Place was a way to extend our core focus supporting and growing big businesses to the micro level as well as tap into the entrepreneurial spirit so prevalent at Investec.”

Julian Baskin, director of the Alexandra Renewal project said, “Our main objective is to reduce unemployment and poverty in a sustainable manner, especially through spatial integration and skills training, focussed on women and the youth. We’ve partnered with The Business Place because it is vital to assist people to start their own businesses as well as help existing businesses improve their operating efficiencies.”

Though officially launched today, the centre in Alexandra opened in September. Already more than 1,282 clients have used its services.

Another recent development for The Business Place franchise sees Investec donating the intellectual property it has developed and acquired over the last seven years to the Business Place Network, a new Section 21 Company.

“We wanted to bridge the huge divide between the corporate world of resources, expertise, skill and people who are generally removed from networks and opportunities,” Kropman said.

To find out more about the The Business Place and for information about how to bring this unique social franchise to your community, visit www.tbp.co.za or contact Investec's Social Investment division on (011) 286 7438