Economic Opportunities
Whether his Department investigated the concept of micro franchising as a viable business model for small businesses, if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The micro franchising model seeks to duplicate business entities and facilitates a process where micro enterprises (e.g. shoe repairs, leather products) can be franchised within township communities. The Business Place (TBP) contributes to the Partner Network in particular with its support using a micro franchising model to support businesses operating in the informal sector of Philippi. It has structured packages of support to enhance the capacity of these enterprises especially township based businesses. The success of which will contribute to the departmental goals and with its unique offering stimulate market opportunities with solutions that would benefit businesses in this market segment.
The following departmental funded programmes are using the micro franchising concept to develop informal businesses:
• Business Builder programme: Every Thursday a group meets at The Business Place Khayelitsha (TBPK) and Philippi for two hours with training and coaching occurring on alternate weeks - one week training, the next week coaching. The participants have a one on one mentoring session every two weeks, which usually occurs a few days after training, held at their business premises or at The Business Place.
• Owner Development programme: The programme started with eight participants in June 2014, at The Business Place in Khayelitsha. To date the participants received access to individual business premises.
• Trade Mark programme: The Business Place has a partnership with a construction company Trade-Mark to implement the programme. The programme will commence in January 2015.
