Business Support Centre

The Business Support Centre (BSC) is an independent, non-governmental organization, which provides expert business training, advice and facilitation of linkages to emerging entrepreneurs with a desire to succeed in business. Since its inception in 1996, it has trained in excess of emerging entrepreneurs, linked emerging entrepreneurs to opportunities in the market place in excess of R120 million and currently registers on average 500 new businesses (mainly Close Corporations) per annum. The BSC is, according to the DTI, one of the best LBSCs that is comprised of experienced and committed personnel ranging from the board of Directors to Staff. The BSC board enjoys representation from business organizations; including the local chamber and the private sector including Hulamin. For the BSC to forge forward with its task of developing the SMME sector in our local economy, requires funding. The primary focus of the BSC at the time of its establishment was to assist mainly startups. The BSC has achieved this objective over the past 10 years. However these startups have now entered a new phase and therefore a new intervention is required. The BSC will now address their needs of compliance in order for their businesses to grow and become more sustainable. This has been achieved by setting up an Enterprise Development unit which provides services to the private/public sector and promotes business linkages and development to the SMME. This service is claimable on the BEE scorecard. A few of the BSC participants in Enterprise Development include Hulamin Limited, Aberdare Cables and Nampak.