Entrepreneurs have until Monday November 27 to enter their ideas into the ENSafrica business plan competition.
This is the third year that ENSafrica is hosting the competition, which invites entrepreneurs from Mitchell’s Plain and Khayelitsha to submit either a business plan for a new venture, or a plan to expand an existing business.
ENSafrica director, Peter Dachs, said all business plans would be adjudicated by ENSafrica practitioners.
He said those who have a good prospect of success are funded and those who submit business plans will receive free legal and tax assistance for the development of their business.
Mr Dachs said 18 business plans had been submitted last year, with the winning one coming from Ndibulele Wababa from Khayelitsha.
The businessman had participated in the ENSafrica business management series and entered his business plan into last year’s competition.
Since winning the competition, Mr Wababa had started a printing business, Hash Tag Clothing, and to help him, ENSafrica assigned him a mentor specialising in tax. The practice then further donated printing equipment to his business.
ENSafrica’s pro bono co-ordinator, Natasha Wagiet, said the competition formed part of the firm’s pro bono programme and that it was a creative way to help address the country’s unemployment rate and also empower members of vulnerable communities.
“ENSafrica nurtures entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs by assisting them to establish and grow their own businesses. In addition to the business plan competition, we host a business management series, where pro bono clients are introduced to the relevant business law and tax issues.
“Entrepreneurs can attend enterprise development sessions presented by ENSafrica practitioners, which focus on the various aspects of starting and expanding a business. Topics range from how to draft a business plan to tax considerations. At the end of the series, participants are presented with a certificate of attendance at a graduation ceremony hosted at the firm’s pro bono office,” she said.
To enter the competition, submit a comprehensive business plan to ENSafrica’s pro bono office at 1 Naboom Street, Eastridge, Mitchell’s Plain by 4pm on Monday November 27.
