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The rule of thumb in claiming B-BBEE points is to follow the money directly to the end Beneficiary. Therefore, incorporating a third party between an organisation and a Beneficiary will not warrant a claim. The valid B-BBEE credentials of the end Beneficiary will be needed in order to validate the claim. Technical Compliance Services are available to advise how members should present evidence pertaining to any Beneficiary claims.

Bizcommunity | 15 February 2023 Frederik Zietsman, CEO of Takealot. Source: Supplied The SMMEs will also get the opportunity to pitch their business for potential grants or interest-free loan funding. Frederik Zietsman, CEO of Takealot.com comments, “SMMEs are critical to addressing many of South Africa’s socio-economic challenges, from helping to create inclusive business growth to job creation and transformation. But this is only possible if the right conditions are created for these businesses to grow and thrive. “We are deeply passionate about SMME development and recognise the need to act now to support Black entrepreneurs to ensure their future success. Through the Takealot Marketplace Business Accelerator Programme, we are committed to playing an active role in promoting an inclusive digital economy.” According to the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation’s MSME Opportunity in South Africa 2019 report, the small business sector employs between 50% to 60% of South Africa’s workforce. Despite being the backbone of the country’s economy, they often remain the most vulnerable, especially as South African businesses continue to battle with ongoing inflation increases and electricity woes. With the aim of building an inclusive digital economy, Takealot says it's committed to scaling and growing this Business Accelerator Programme year on year to play an active role in promoting entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for all. “In the past year alone, Takealot has onboarded over 3,000 new businesses - a testament to the empowering value of the marketplace platform. We believe the Business Accelerator Programme embodies the sort of initiatives that will help drive our country forward. Because supporting SMMEs to grow their own business is one of the best ways to ultimately help South Africa’s economy succeed,“ concluded Zietsman. Applications to the Takealot Marketplace Business Accelerator Programme are now open and will close on 24 February 2023. Takealot Marketplace sellers can apply here. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’ https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/394/236023.html

Staff Reporter | 15 February 2023 Barbra Muzata from Corteva Agriscience with the 35 #SoilSistas selected in 2022. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi It is the chance of a lifetime, but you will have to hurry with your last-minute application to be among the 30 women farmers and agripreneurs selected to a year-long programme offered by Corteva Agriscience and the Gordon Institute of Business Science. The initiative, now in its third year, aims to empower women in agriculture to become successful farmers, small-business owners, and providers for their families. In ongoing efforts to sow the seeds of change, Corteva Agriscience is again working with the Entrepreneurship Development Academy (EDA) at GIBS to implement an immersive, tailor-made programme, aimed at advancing the interests of women farmers. The hybrid, 12-month course equips women agripreneurs with the entrepreneurial, business, and leadership skills they need to operate and sustain their agricultural enterprises profitably. In 2021, during the pilot launch of the initiative, 33 women agripreneurs graduated out of a class of 36 (selected from among 500 applicants), with the programme achieving a high success rate of 92%. In the midway assessment of the 2022 programme, 95% of the women agripreneurs reported that the course challenged them to think differently about running their businesses. The 2023 programme will seek to support 30 participants through theoretical and experiential training and will facilitate valuable networking opportunities with other farmers and experienced sector role players. Women agripreneurs who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply ahead of the programme kick-off in March 2023. The following criteria should be kept in mind when applying. Applicants must: be a South African citizen. be at least 21 years of age. be operating a business for at least two years in the agricultural sector or sub-sectors and should have growth potential. employ at least one or more persons. generate at least R300 000 in revenue/sales per annum (evidence will be requested from shortlisted applicants. be based in Gauteng or within traveling distance to Illovo, Johannesburg. Traveling will be at your own cost. Surrounding provinces will be accepted. The programme delivery will be blended with in-person sessions in Johannesburg at your own cost. have access to a computer that can be comfortably used and supported with stable Wi-Fi or data. accept that the programme will be delivered in a blended format (a mix of online and in-person sessions). be able to read, write and converse in English. A matric will be an advantage. provide a commitment fee of R3 500 as a deposit. The full fee is refundable when successfully graduating. Early drop-out will result in the fee being forfeited. Corteva Agriscience has committed to engaging with and supporting women in agriculture across the globe from the largest farms in the most advanced economies, to the smallest subsistence farms in developing economies. The company proudly collaborates with local and regional communities through outreach programmes around the world, focusing efforts on empowering women, enabling youth, and engaging communities. “Women farmers feed more than just their families and communities; their efforts help feed the world. That’s why at Corteva Agriscience, we’re continually working with women farmers to help them become successful farmers, small-business owners, and providers for their families,” said Betty Kiplagat, government and industry affairs leader for Africa and the Middle East at Corteva Agriscience. One of the agripreneurs in the current cohort said, “The programme has gone from strength to strength since the pilot. The process begins by selecting the most promising project applications and these successful applicants will benefit from the training programme, designed, and delivered by sector experts and mentors” In addition to this, the programme looks to ensure that women agripreneurs are equipped with the necessary skills, training and development to ensure that they run sustainable and profitable agricultural enterprises. Safe-guarding food security Miranda Hosking, managing executive: social education at GIBS added, “Despite women’s significant representation, it is widely acknowledged that women in the agricultural sector are not equal to their male peers in terms of economic return and employment. Research has shown that every rand in income earned by a woman achieves the same impact as R11 earned by a man. “Studies also show that women make critical contributions to agricultural and rural economies in developing countries and that women in rural areas are often responsible for managing complex households and deriving their livelihoods from various sources. Therefore, increasing the effective participation of women in commercial agriculture will significantly enhance the potential to address food insecurity and local economic development. “Transformation of the agriculture sector is critical to ensure that women- owned agri-businesses can thrive and become sustainable, thus enabling them to fully participate in this key economic sector.” Applications close this week with the programme set to start in March 2023. Please note that by applying for this programme, you consent to your personal information being supplied to the GIBS EDA and Corteva Agriscience for further communication. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/women-in-agriculture-last-chance-to-apply/

Bizcommunity | 15 February 2023 Image by Michi S from Pixabay The school will offer four of its accredited qualifications, three at undergraduate level, and its honours-level Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice, from its new Brickfield campus in Woodstock. The new campus will also host the school’s executive education and customised programmes for its Cape Town-based corporate clients. Welcoming Henley’s decision to open a Cape Town campus, Wrenelle Stander, the CEO of Wesgro, the official trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, said the move is a positive addition to the talent landscape in the province. “Henley’s international alumni network is well-recognised and powerful, and we anticipate our business community leveraging this as they grow their organisations and the Western Cape economy. We look forward to Henley’s faculty, students and alumni contributing to constructive conversations at a provincial level,” Stander said. The dearth of skilled workers and professionals has long been identified as a major constraint to growing SA’s economy and reducing the unemployment rate. Among other goals, the National Development Plan (NDP), a long-term plan articulating the country’s vision to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030, targets increasing the number of university enrolments as part of efforts to boost SA’s skills base. Boosting skills development Business schools are expected to play a central role particularly in terms of boosting leadership and management skills, key to the success of any organisation. There are some 22 local schools in SA offering Masters in Business Administration programmes (MBAs) — the world's best known and most widely recognised management education qualification—with the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and the Stellenbosch University’s Business School (USB) being the most notable in the Western Cape. While Henley has no immediate plans to offer a fully-fledged MBA progamme at its Cape Town campus, it says there will be support available to its MBA students based in the city – but they will be officially registered with the Johannesburg campus. Most of the MBA work is done remotely but there are in-person sessions and these are held in Johannesburg. “Cape Town is South Africa’s innovation capital and one of the most exciting places in the country to be doing business – and thinking differently about how to do business that builds the country. At Henley Africa, we are eager to be a part of this energy. And as the country’s fastest growing and only international business school, we know Henley has a lot to offer the mother city,” said Jon Foster-Pedley, dean and director of Henley Africa. Henley’s own research indicates that an estimated 36% of senior managers in the public sector did not have the required-level of qualification for their position in 2021, and in the Western Cape, on average, just 29% of managers working across all industries have some form of management qualification. “We simply have to get these numbers up and we want to make it as easy and accessible as possible for more South Africans to rise through the academic ranks,” Foster-Pedley said. Rashika Padarath, head of Henley’s degree-level management development programme, said the flexibility and structure of the schools’ programmes could give thousands of working people “who may lack the formal qualifications or the luxury of time to study at business school the skills and confidence to manage and lead themselves and others well.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/499/235988.html

Sunday World | 15th Feb 2023 Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, says the social compact initiatives announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address are critical to promoting job creation. Nxesi said that there is a broad agreement from the social partners on eight priority interventions, and they anticipate that five or more Economic Sector compacts will come out of this process, as with the ESKOM social compact. The Minister was speaking on Tuesday at the Cape Town City Hall during a Parliamentary debate of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). The Joint Sitting of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) today continues debating the President’s SONA and the President will respond to the debate on Thursday. On employment retention and creation, the Minister said the expanded mandate of the department, which includes employment, is reflected in the consultations with government departments on the National Employment Policy. This is envisioned to be finalised by September 2023, and thereafter it will be submitted to Cabinet for approval. “As Minister of Employment and Labour, we are establishing an Employment Creation Coordination Committee that is to be chaired by the Deputy President and will include Economic, Infrastructure and Employment Ministers, organised business and labour, and community organisations,” Nxesi said. Nxesi said the committee will be tasked with ensuring intergovernmental alignment, guided by pro-employment policies; a relevant skills and educational framework; the extension of social protection to workers, and support for work seekers. The committee will further be tasked with ensuring an ecosystem that promotes sustainable enterprise development, self-employment, and positive regulation for the informal sector, and a labour migration policy and a legislative framework that manages migration to and from South Africa to benefit the economic needs of our country. Presidential Employment Stimulus In support of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, Nxesi said the department and its entities continue to contribute to employment in the following manner: Coordinating the pathway management network with the Presidency to support young people. UIF has partnered with a number of institutions in creating and retaining jobs. Our focus is on supporting SMMEs. Productivity SA will accelerate its Enterprise Development and Support Programmes, with a focus on company turnarounds. The implementation of a Rehabilitation and Return to work framework in the COID Act will promote the reintegration of injured workers into employment. We also support the employment of people living with disabilities through our thirteen factories and subsidies to designated organisations. As part of eliminating red tape, the Department has tabled labour law amendment proposals to NEDLAC to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses. In the proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act (EEA), measures will be introduced to enhance the prohibition of unfair discrimination whilst improving the competitiveness of small businesses employing less than 49 employees. Enforcement and Inspectorate Services At the beginning of the year, Minister Nxesi visited farms in different provinces as part of the enforcement and inspection of adherence to labour and National Minimum Wage laws. “As at the end of quarter three, we have conducted 236,000 inspections and referred 5,100 cases for prosecution. “Our inspectorate recovered R150 million owed to vulnerable and migrant workers – who are often employed exactly to exploit their vulnerable status as migrants,” the minister said. Nxesi emphasised that combating child labour is part of the daily work of the inspectorate. He added that the Durban Call to Action, adopted by the 2022 ILO Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, is a landmark in the movement against child labour. To deal with the high number of work-related injuries, the minister said the department is amending the Occupational Health and Safety Act (1993) to increase fines and penalties to deter unscrupulous employers. Minister Nxesi said that the findings by the department’s dedicated inspectors have resulted in the Department of Employment and Labour developing a National Labour Migration Policy which seeks to balance between four principles: The perception that employment of foreign workers is being done at the expense of citizens; The economic need to source and acquire global scarce and critical skills needed by the economy; Protection of rights of migrants in line with international treaties and our Constitution; and Locating all these within regional integration and cooperative imperatives.– SAnews.gov.za ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://sundayworld.co.za/news/business/social-compact-initiatives-critical-to-job-creation/

Daily Vox Team | 14 February 2023 Recognizing the shortfall of specialized skills in South Africa, the government had created “Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)” Colleges. These institutions aimed to make accredited vocational training more accessible, especially to previously marginalized groups. With little information on TVET Colleges, parents have shunned these institutions that offer vocational trade qualifications as it was considered that supporting a child in a vocational trade was setting them up for an unsuccessful future. Hence, the reputation of TVET is typically rather poor when compared to that of other educational institutions. This oversight, says Vimala Ariyan, the CEO of Star Schools, is robbing young people of the opportunity to use technical education as a launch pad into their future. “TVET institutions are excellent places to study and develop vocational or occupational skills such as those required in Building and Construction, Hospitality, Culinary, Tourism, Information Technology and many more occupations that respond to our fast-changing skills-demand across sectors. The diverse range of programmes offered by TVET Colleges is practical, skilled based and nuanced. As a result, these programmes will encourage self-learning, independence and provide learners with employment opportunities. A majority of TVET qualifications also provide another opportunity for learners – and that is to become self-employed. One needs to consider TVET Colleges as a route to secure employment/self-employment and as a stepping stone to Higher Education thereafter,” says Vimala Ariyan. Here are some more reasons why TVET can be an option for you: TVET colleges are an alternative to universities for learners who want to enter the workforce without getting a traditional degree. These institutions will provide the following: Increased job opportunities Most employers require qualifications for certain roles at their company. As many industry practices continue to evolve, attending TVET Colleges will provide one with the opportunity to keep one’s skills current while also learning something new. Furthermore, TVET colleges offer a wide variety of qualifications and courses in the most in-demand skill sectors, amplifying the opportunities available to students. Cheaper and easily accessible TVET institutions are known to be less expensive than other tertiary institutions. Also, their entry requirements are not as strict as universities, making TVET college an option that is more inclusive and accessible to all. Many TVET programmes are also funded by organisations and the government. Courses are externally and independently quality assured Students who study at a TVET College can be assured their qualifications are accredited and recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Courses are also moderated, and quality assured by the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). Hands on experience Experience is something most employers want from their prospective employees, however, as a new job seeker this is often lacking. TVET colleges, unlike most theory-based institutions, offer hands-on practical experience in the workplace as part of the programme which means that by the time one graduates, one will have an actual understanding of how to execute tasks in one’s chosen field. There are 50 TVET Colleges with over 200 campuses in South Africa, each with its own focus areas and specialisations. MyStar Institute of Technology is an accredited subsidiary of Star Schools that offers accredited qualifications and short courses to youth as well as industries across sectors. The reasoning behind the launch of the institute is to ensure we provide a pathway of learning for our matriculants into higher levels of education. “Attending A TVET College is so much more than just getting a qualification and finding a job. It can be life changing, as one will get the opportunity to gain a variety of soft skills which will assist one in becoming more marketable. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of TVET graduates being hired by businesses in recent years. Learners must take advantage of the opportunities provided by TVET colleges to pursue a vocational career and position themselves in the labour market,” concludes Vimala. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.thedailyvox.co.za/reasons-why-school-leavers-should-consider-going-to-tvet-colleges/

Jeanette Clark | 15 Feb 2023 The turnover tax system introduced in 2009 to simplify tax compliance for small businesses hasn’t been widely adopted, suggesting a need for greater awareness of it. Image: Adobe Stock For South Africa to have employment-rich economic growth, SMEs need additional policies and support from government: Colin Timmis of Xero. The eyes and ears of South Africa were fixed on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) last week, in anticipation of some positive news regarding the energy crisis, declining economic growth, and any signs of hope in a challenging environment. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were part of that crowd, as the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns and persistent load shedding has made it difficult to stay operational. A report by the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) found that 71% of the agency’s funded clients have been negatively impacted by load shedding, and the majority reported that they require an alternative power source, such as a generator, to continue operations during power outages. On a recent Small Business Conversations Podcast with Moneyweb, Small Business Institute CEO John Dludlu said the country needs approximately 39 000 to 40 000 new SMEs each year, to achieve the National Development Plan’s goal of 90% of all jobs coming from SMEs by 2030. There was hope that Sona would announce measures to enable the ecosystem that could help SMEs reach this target. Colin Timmis, country manager for South Africa at Xero, a provider of accounting software and digital solutions, was hoping for a more robust conversation on the crucial role of SMEs in fostering growth. “It is essential to differentiate between different types of SMEs,” he says. “Those that employ people are critical to our economy and, in my opinion, should be the focus of policy and incentives to encourage more active participation and economic activity, so they can contribute to the tax system.” SMEs in Sona President Ramaphosa did speak on the state of small businesses in South Africa, unveiling initiatives aimed at promoting growth and sustainability. “The government,” he said, “will finalise amendments to the Business Act this year to reduce regulatory barriers for small, medium, and micro enterprises as well as co-operatives, making it easier to start a new business in the country.” The president highlighted the efforts of the Red Tape Reduction Team in the presidency, which has collaborated with various departments and agencies in streamlining processes related to mining rights, tourism transport operator licences, visas and work permits, and the informal sector. Ramaphosa announced that the Sefa would provide R1.4 billion in financing to over 90 000 entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the SA SME Fund is working to establish a R10 billion fund to support SMME growth. According to the president: “The government is considering a contribution of R2.5 billion, with the balance of R7.5 billion to be raised from the private sector.” What else is needed? Timmis is confident that simplifying the tax system will have a significant impact. “The South African Revenue Service already has a clear vision and strategy, but I believe we could do a better job of promoting it.” He highlights the low number of businesses that have adopted the turnover tax system, introduced in 2009 to simplify tax compliance for small businesses, possibly due to ignorance or a lack of understanding. To further assist SMEs, Timmis suggests improving payment policies to ensure larger corporates and government pay these businesses on time. “Many SMEs struggle with cash flow, so having policies in place that reduce late payments would improve their chances of success,” he says. Timmis is also passionate about the benefits of digital platforms and tools for SMEs, saying: “There is a real opportunity in South Africa to revolutionise small business development through technology.” These tools can aid in payment collection and tax compliance, and provide easier access to financing by offering financial statements for creditworthiness assessment. He proposes that the government consider an incentive scheme similar to the UK’s Help To Grow campaign, which offered a training programme for small business owners and subsidies for acquiring digital business tools. Although there was one reference to digital and technology skills development in Sona – with the National Skills Fund providing R800 million for skills development through a payment-to-training-to-employment model – no other incentives were announced. Optimism and resilience, despite challenges According to Xero’s ‘State of Small Business’ report, released last year, small business owners are optimistic about the future – 87% of respondents expressed confidence in their businesses and 99% expected to survive the following five years, which is a stark contrast to earlier, bleak predictions. One in three businesses also stated that they plan to expand into new markets in the coming year. Timmis states: “In the cohort of SMEs that we deal with, those that can afford digital tools and an accountant, this is the real on-the-ground feedback: businesses are doing better than ever.” However, he acknowledges that there are still many small businesses struggling to overcome challenges. He hopes the upcoming budget speech will recognise these difficulties and applaud the resilience of small businesses. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.moneyweb.co.za/in-depth/xero/sas-smes-essential-to-economic-growth-optimistic-about-the-future/

Media Update | 14 February 2023 Xaxis South Africa has announced the success of its pilot FastTrack programme for jobs in digital media. Xaxis, GroupM's outcome media specialist, will see the continuation of its FastTrack programme for 2023, following the success of its pilot initiative in 2021. The programme empowers the company to bolster its team while also addressing ongoing employment challenges in the region. The project evolved from the idea of Ursula Strauss, managing director of Xaxis South Africa. It aims at creating employment and skills development opportunities in digital media, an industry often overlooked due to perceived entry barriers. Despite the staggering youth unemployment rate of South Africa, which stands at 60%, businesses like Xaxis have struggled to grow their teams because they can't find candidates with the desired basic digital media skill set, says the team on the project. "We had jobs to offer but nobody to offer them to," says Strauss. Strauss adds, "Our sector is not reliant on traditional education structures; instead, we have been able to build career pathways working with those who have the fundamentals of digital media knowledge. Our emphasis has been to recruit those with a passion for learning and strengths in communication, team building and other core organisational skills." To launch the programme, Xaxis collaborated with Steffan van der Male, head of iHub Africa, an initiative committed to training underprivileged African youth in basic digital media skills, alongside general personal and business skills. The scheme has become a pivotal mechanism for building bridges between corporates and young African talent. After completing a nine-month iHub course, graduates Nvelwenhle Ncube, Camilla Moyo and Immaculate Moyo then enrolled in the Xaxis FastTrack programme. Leaning on Xaxis United Kingdom, the South Africa team was able to provide access to a wealth of resources, such as: webinars learning material, and Google-certified exams. "I never imagined myself in a corporate environment," says Ncube. "I fell in love with my profession and today I am working hard to be the best at it." Strauss concludes, "There is a huge education, skill and employment gap in South Africa. I believe we are bridging it by providing these young people with opportunities to change their own and their family's circumstances — allowing them to dream more, learn more and become more. I'm extremely fortunate and grateful to play a small part in driving this initiative forward year-on-year." ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/marketing/153407/xaxis-south-africa-announces-success-of-its-pilot-fasttrack-programme

Pula Capital Partners | 14 February 2023 Pula Capital Partners, LRMG's investment arm, is pleased to announce a strategic investment in and partnership with Torque. Torque is an employee experience agency that partners with various organisations to create integrated and holistic employee experience (EX) solutions, from hire to retire. Offerings range from employee experience consultancy and strategy to employee engagement portals and facilitated conversations and toolkits around topical subjects such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Further portfolio offerings within their solution suite include EX communication strategy and solution design; end-to-end EX content creation, design, and management; employee value proposition (EVP) workshops and organisational roll-out; and bespoke employee wellness strategies and communication. CEO of LRMG, Ricky Robinson, says, “Torque is highly complementary to our own business of enabling high performance in organisations and has special synergies with our culture, change, and organisational design consulting division. We are especially excited to have attracted Sally and her team, who have recently again been recognised as one of SA's Top Women Empowered Companies.” Sally Acton, Torque's founder and CEO, states, “We are very excited to have found in LRMG a well-established and reputable B-BBEE partner that can add significant value to our business by unlocking joint opportunities in an enlarged client base. The cultural fit and LRMG's particular efforts in woman's empowerment is a bonus….” Pula delivers a highly innovative approach and value proposition to apply support, knowledge, and networks to help grow the companies they invest in. About LRMG LRMG is a 25-year-old business specialising in helping organisations maximise their performance through their people. LRMG does this by enabling all levels within an organisation to improve their core competencies and leadership ability, from high-level executive leadership development programmes and coaching to on-the-job and in-the-flow learning at the entry level and everything in between. At the forefront of delivering digital solutions, LRMG represents the global best-of-breed in both contents (e.g. eLearning) and platforms such as Learning Management Systems and Human Resource Management Systems. LRMG has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kenya and Mauritius and representation in another 18 African territories and is a AAA level 1 accredited B-BBEE company. Its homepage is: www.lrmg.co.za. About Pula Capital Partners Pula Capital Partners is a subsidiary of LRMG, and its value proposition sits squarely with leveraging the value that LRMG has to offer investees. Pula Capital's mission is to grow companies through B-BBEE and integrate them into LRMG's broad client base and market-facing value propositions whilst supporting their sales efforts and business development into the broader market. For more information, visit www.pulapartners.co.za. About Torque Torque is an Employee Experience (EX) agency committed to building meaningful employee experiences, from hire to retire. Torque is passionate about developing Employee Value Propositions (EVPs), communication strategies, and digital experiences that are applicable and accessible to everyone in the business - no matter their device, job function, or region. By creating experiences that speak to employees in a hyper-targeted and relevant way, Torque inspires a culture of conversation and positively impacts employee engagement and productivity. Torque is positioned as a team of trusted partners and valuable advisors to their clients for their unique employee insights, problem-solving abilities, excellent customer service, and quick turnaround times. For more information about the business visit the Torque website: https://torque.pro/ ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/516/235937.html

Thank you for attending the session we hope to see you again soon. for upcoming events follow this link https://www.bee.co.za/training

Thank you for attending the session we hope to see you again soon. for upcoming events follow this link https://www.bee.co.za/training

Bizcommunity | 13 February 2023 Delivering the State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday, the president said the government plans to provide R1.4bn to finance over 90,000 entrepreneurs. In addition, the government in partnership with the SA SME Fund is working to establish a R10bn fund to support SMME growth. “Government is looking at the possibility of providing R2.5bn for the fund and for the balance of R7.5bn to be raised from the private sector,” President Ramaphosa said. He was addressing a Joint Sitting of Parliament in the City Hall, Cape Town. This year, the government will finalise amendments to the Businesses Act to reduce regulatory impediments for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and co-operatives and make it easier for entrepreneurs to start businesses. He said the licensing of the PostBank would lay the foundation for the creation of a state bank that will provide financial services to SMMEs, youth- and women-owned businesses and underserved communities. “As the National Assembly considers the Postbank Amendment Bill, the Postbank is reviewing its service offerings so that it can provide a viable and affordable alternative to the commercial banks,” the president said. In an effort to address the challenge of youth unemployment, the Employment Tax Incentive has been expanded to encourage businesses to hire more young people in large numbers. “Last year I announced that we would be seeking to reduce red tape so that we can rid our country of the unnecessary bureaucracy that often holds us back. “The red tape reduction team in the presidency under Sipho Nkosi has been working with various departments to make it easier to do business. “It has taken a collaborative approach, working with departments and agencies in areas such as the mining rights system, tourism transport operator licenses, visas and work permits, early childhood development and the informal sector,” the President said. The red tape reduction team was established to improve the business environment for companies of all sizes through a dedicated capacity in the Presidency to reduce red tape. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/839/235907.html