Portio Dlamini, Managing Director Emakheni, awarded R1,5 million

Aware of the significant challenges facing small businesses and the responsibility of large firms to support transformation and development, three chemicals manufacturers, Ferro Coating Resins, Ferro Dispersions and NCS Resins partnered with the Durban Chemicals Cluster (DCC) to develop a Business Accelerator to fast-track small businesses’ success.

Portio Dlamini of Emakheni, the programme’s first beneficiary to receive preferential financing, was awarded R1,5 million to grow the scale and expand the scope of her industrial cleaning operations. Portio, a qualified process engineer with over 10 years’ experience in the manufacturing industry, plans to use this opportunity to provide sustainable solutions for the treatment of liquid, hazardous waste.

“This opportunity brings a significant shift in our business, especially with regards to business growth and market penetration. This will enable us to operate professionally, service more clients, improve our systems and tackle bigger projects, all while employing and up-skilling more people” says Portio.

“We specifically want to help small businesses with big potential to achieve their dreams. Seeing Portio and the team at Emakheni grow and develop through this programme is exciting and we look forward to working closely with her to help her achieve her business goals” says Trevor I’Ons, Managing Director of NCS Resins.

The Business Accelerator provides intensive mentorship and coaching and affordable financing solutions to fast track high potential small businesses’ success. Launched in December 2018, the programme has trained twenty-five small businesses with seven receiving mentorship and coaching over the course of this year.

DCC Chair of the Skills and Transformation Programme, and CEO of Thebe Unico Honey Manobolo stated “Initiatives such as this are great platforms for bringing entrepreneurs, small businesses and funders together for synergistic opportunities to be identified and advanced”.

The second in-take of small businesses is set to take place in the first week of December 2019. Small business owners looking for development support are encouraged to apply. In addition to affordable financing solutions, participants with high-potential product and service offerings can be awarded cash grants of up to R50 000 on the day. Daniel Souchon, Managing Director of Ferro Polymers “This is a unique opportunity for innovation, collaboration and growth. I strongly encourage any of our smaller customers, suppliers, chemicals manufacturers, service providers or firms with high potential, operating in other sectors, to apply”.

Ravesha Govender, Programme Manager for eThekwini Municipality, key DCC funder and partners stated that “the DCC takes transformation and small business development seriously. We are pleased to support this initiative as a prime example of the power of government, partnering with business for development and transformation”.

Interested parties can complete an online application at www.durbanchemicalscluster.org.za/busacccelerate by 29 November 2019. Successful candidates will be invited to a preparatory session and Dragons’ Den on 3 - 5 December at The Capital Pearls Hotel, Umhlanga.