Soweto Entrepreneurs Invited To Join Joburg’s Open For Business Festival

by Staff Reporter on 31/10/12 at 4:00 pm
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More business is good business. So says The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, Virgin’s non-profit foundation. It is calling on Soweto entrepreneurs and small business owners to participate in the flagship event of Open For Business; a series of community-driven entrepreneurship festivals that give participants a platform to market themselves to new clients and trade.

The event, which takes place in the lead-up to Global Entrepreneurship Week (12 – 18 November), will be held in Soweto at the Virgin Active health club on 3rd November. Free to attend, visitors can buy goods and services from local entrepreneurs while enjoying live entertainment which includes fun for the kids.

Open For Business launched in September this year to give bold, tenacious entrepreneurs exposure to their communities and neighbours in a supportive environment. It has proved popular among Katlehong and Alexandra communities who both participated in and visited the events held in early September and October. Some of the participating businesses included summer clothing collections, school uniform suppliers, gospel music and catering companies.

The Branson Centre CEO Tracey Webster says, “The local entrepreneurs who participated in the first two festivals showed great promise and eagerness to kick start their small businesses. In fact, we invited eight businesses to join The Branson Centre and learn where to from here. We look forward to engaging with more entrepreneurs at the Soweto event and, hopefully, can give them a positive platform from which to generate more business.”

Over and above exposure to new opportunities and clients, participants can also network with Branson Centre entrepreneurs to share their unique challenges and ideas, and receive constructive feedback from “someone like me”. One participating small business owner will also be chosen on the day and receive invaluable training, one-on-one mentoring and business tools from The Branson Centre.

To book a stand, those interested can contact Lebo Molefe on 073 348 6996 or email info@lifesgud.com by the1st of November. Cost is R100 per business and includes tables and chairs.

Limited number of 60 places available.

Visit www.bransoncentre.org.za or www.facebook.com/bransoncentre for more details.

Ideate is one of South Africa's biggest business blogs, with a team of authors all of whom have had entrepreneurial experience. Ideate is read by entrepreneurs thinking BIG. Follow us on Twitter here. View more articles by Staff Reporter.

Tags: branson centre, CTEW, entrepreneurship, gauteng, gew, global entrepreneurship week, Joburg, richard branson, South Africa, Tracey Webster

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