The City of Cape Town Partners With UWC to Launch Booster Programme for Local Entrepreneurs

The City of Cape Town has partnered with the University of Western Cape (UWC) to launch a three-year training programme for entrepreneurs. The programme is tailored to assist participants in growing their business by providing them with valuable skills and knowledge. 

Grant Twigg, The City of Cape Town’s MayCo member for Urban management comments on the launch of the programme and provides further insight into what it will offer selected participants. 

“The City is pleased to be partnering with UWC to provide formal and informal business owners with a platform to increase and develop their skills, as well as be mentored throughout the three-year hands-on, interactive programme. The range of topics covered will empower them to make informed decisions to help grow their businesses, create employment opportunities as well as continue to contribute to the local economy. Well-run businesses also provide the opportunity for upskilling employees through sharing knowledge and skills, which strengthens services rendered and makes staff marketable to future job opportunities. We encourage entrepreneurs who meet the criteria to make use of this opportunity and please apply. This initiative is an extension of the City’s existing and ongoing efforts to support local entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses.” 

The entrepreneurship training programme

The programme is targeted at SME entrepreneurs and informal traders. According to reports, 200 applicants will be selected to take part in the accredited entrepreneurship training programme. Carried out by the City of Cape Town’s Expanded Public Work’s Programme and UWC’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI). 

The entrepreneurship training programme will operate from 1 November 2021 until 31 October 2024 and will cover various topics including entrepreneurship, business analysis, mobile technology and more. The programme is free of charge to selected participants and in addition to the various topics covered participants will be provided practical support through mentorship.

To cater to pandemic conditions and regulations, the programme will be held partly online and in person at the UWC campus. 

Interested applicants must adhere to the following requirements; 

• If they have a new business
• Are the founders/owners of an existing or entry-level SMME that has been operational for less than two years OR 
• Found and own an existing SMME that has been operational for over two years. 
• The business can be registered or unregistered.

Each application will undergo rigorous analysis by the City’s EPWP team and the UWC CEI. 

How to apply 

Applications must be submitted online here.

Each application must include the following; 

• Entrepreneurs/applicants business plan and other critical documentation 
• A one-page brief motivating why the applicant believes they deserve to take part in the programme. 

“UWC is excited to be partnering with the City of Cape Town in this groundbreaking initiative. We are excited to be able to add value to the EPWP objective of supporting local entrepreneurs, assisted by the CEI, who has been offering entrepreneurial training for a number of years,” concludes Abduraghman Regal, UWC Finance and Operations Executive.