See ABBREVIATIONS EXPLAINED 

The Business Place – Nelson Mandela Bay (TBP-NMB) is a friendly, accessible, walk-in environment where aspiring and existing entrepreneurs can go to access information and support on how to start and grow small businesses. TBP-NMB is a promoter and champion of entrepreneurial activity. - Click here to view the TBP Group Profile

Our walk-in Center offers, among other initiatives, the following services:

Interventions are implemented in the form of: 

• Training
• Workshops or
• Networking interventions. 
  
  

When are these interventions provided and how can I attend? 

• The interventions are provided monthly.

• The training schedule is circulated via email to entrepreneurs registered on TBP-NMB’s database. 
• Also posted its Facebook Events Page (@TheBusinessPlaceNMB)
• At The Business Place offices. Click here for contact details
• Click here to view the schedule for September 2023

REGISTRATION ON THE TBP-NMB DATABASE:

Registering on the TBP-NMB Database requires us to do a ONE-ON-ONE assessment session, in person, at one of our facilities, where after the entrepreneur will be automatically registered on the database.

Once registered on the database, the entrepreneur will receive regular correspondence on:

• Training
• Workshops
• Networking 
• and other Interventions relating to their growth as an enterprise. 

These interventions include but are not limited to:

• One-on-one consultations
• Business Health Checks: Identifying deficiencies – interventions implemented in the form of:
• Training
• Information Sessions
• Workshops
• Networking Sessions.
• Provision of relevant Business Information
• Business advice and support
• Assistance with regards to Compliance Services:
• BBBEE (Broad-based black economic empowerment) Affidavits
• CSD (Central Suppliers Database) Registration/Update support
• Coaching/mentorship
• Supply Chain - Compliance and Registration support
• Availability of Boardroom, Meeting Rooms, or Training Rooms at no cost to our Entrepreneurs, to create a conducive environment for them to grow/flourish – bookings essential (1 week in advance).
• Training
• Tendering Workshops
• Information Sessions
• Workshops
• Networking Sessions
• Public Internet Stations for business and idea generation, etc.
• Funding Facilitation   
  
  

Examples of the FREE workshop and information sessions offered

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SERVICES AT A FEE OFFERED BY ON-SITE PARTNER – EMERGE 

TBP offers funding facilitation services - Click here to view more detailed information on the process.

Please note: There is no guarantee of any funding (loans or grants) being awarded, it is based on review of the application by the finance institution (which is beyond the TBP's our control and external to our organisation). TBP's role is to assist the entrepreneur with achieving 100% compliance with their application, so that their eligibility of being awarded a loan is improved.

 1. TBP SMME FUNDING FACILITATION explained: 

• TBP-NMB’s role in funding facilitation is to facilitate, track and report on the funding process for TBP-NMB clients who have applied for funding through its own network of external financiers; and
• Additionally, TBP also has the responsibility to create focused engagement with key stakeholders, ensuring the process of Funding Facilitation has added value to the SMME ecosystem. 

It is important to note that TBP-NMB does not fund SMME’s directly–  Their role is to get their entrepreneurs to a state of Financial Compliance, to be in a better position to access funding. 

SMMEs in need of funding, to unlock and realize salient growth or business opportunities, are assisted in gaining access to funding beyond traditional finance structures.

This includes: 

• Access to Private Equity and Venture Capita,
• Commercial Lending,
• Structured Lending and
• Project and Development Finance.  

The funding is secured from an external ecosystem of financiers, and the process is managed by our internal administration team.

TBP-NMB’s management role includes: 

• Governance Oversight,
• Ensuring that beneficiaries present minimal risk for Investors. 

2.  TOWNSHIP GROWTH FUND SME FUNDING

Learn more about the Township Growth Fund - Township Growth Fund - Powered by Emerge Group.mp4

The Business Place Network, a Non-Profit Company and a Service Provider of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality – Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture (NMBM EDTA), conceptualized an on-lending fund (administered by Emerge Group) that assists existing entrepreneurs with financing, of which business support training forms a part of the funding conditions, with the intention of creating full-term employment opportunities. The fund "Township Growth Fund” is now open for applications for SMMEs in the Nelson Mandela Bay. 

ACCESS TO FUNDING

• Lack of access to development funding at low cost
• Lack of access to markets and market linkages
• Lack of risk appetite by financiers, resulting in potentially good projects not been funded
• Lack of entrepreneurial training and support; and
• Delays in funding, resulting in lost opportunities for SMMEs 

The Business Place together with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality aims to catalyse innovation in job creation through structured and strategic private and public sector partnerships. Initiatives which demonstrate the growth potential and capacity to create jobs will receive funding. 

TARGET MARKET

The target market is small to medium businesses from the Nelson Mandela Bay and the broader South Africa public from marginalised backgrounds.
Beneficiaries will be small to medium enterprises whose primary focus is support for the development of township economies and come from the following community groups:  

• 51% blacked owned businesses *
• Women-owned enterprises
• Youth owned businesses
• People with Disabilities (PwD); and
• Previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs)
• Small to medium companies that have off-take agreements with the City and other corporates 
• Operating for at   

* Mandatory conditions

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Project endeavors to focus on 100% Previously Disadvantaged Individuals of which 65% of the beneficiaries should be women and 50% youth.

To qualify, beneficiaries should at least meet the following criteria:  

• SMME must commit itself to undergo training and business development support
• Selected beneficiaries must demonstrate potential to grow their turnover
• Selection criteria will prioritise SMMEs with high labour absorptive capacity
• The client must meet the definition of black as per DTI and the Revised Financial Sector Code
• The client must have at least 51% black ownership, managed and controlled
• The client must have direct involvement in the business operations
• The client must have the ability to create new and sustainable jobs
• The business should have a well detailed business plan
• Client must have strong track record evidenced by business performance and/or strong expertise in their industry
• Businesses looking at using the credit for between 0-3 years
• Clients whom are responsible, co-operative, transparent and of sound integrity
• Repayments will be in the form of debit order payments from the client’s business account and are to be made monthly
• SMMEs must be committed to good governance and have strong financial and management systems in place as well as demonstrate financial viability and sustainability of the business. 

 For applications, the contact details can be found on the Contact Us page of the TBP.

WHERE TO FIND US?