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Musing
and meandering
On
the road to Cape Town
Christmas
lunch palava in SA
Australia and South Africa: the differences,
similarities
More Forex
rates...
South African entrepreneurs in London
A variety of reasons are given for the fact that so many South Africans are entrepreneurs, including:
- the country’s lack of a comprehensive social security system
- affirmative action forcing people to create their own jobs
- a generally gutsy and adventurous nature
But of course
much more than an entrepreneurial spirit is needed to make a successful
entrepreneur. A course next month in London is designed to help South
Africans who wonder if they have what it takes to be an entrepreneur or
just need some guidance along the way.
The course, Prospective Entrepreneurs, is
being held in London for the 2nd time. It will be presented by Professor
Tommy du Plessis, director of the Potchefstroom Business School at the
North West University, in conjunction with Breytenbachs
and the newspaper, the South African. Prospective Entrepreneurs will have
special emphasis for many South Africans
living abroad at a time when many are looking to move back or at least
invest in their homeland.
“There
is a big need for good business acumen with young South Africans who have
worked for some time abroad and have built up a nest
egg which they now have a need to invest in a business
opportunity in South Africa,” said Prof du Plessis.
Breytenbachs,
a legal firm specialising in immigration, property law and general legal
services, will be covering 50% of the cost of running the course. Mr Hannes
Breytenbach of Breytenbachs
in London says his company wants to stay involved with all South Africans.
“We don’t only want to serve South Africans working and living
in the United Kingdom, but also want to ensure that returning South Africans
are aware that Breytenbachs can play a role in their economic
activity during resettlement. There are, furthermore, also South
Africans in London who are already entrepreneurs who we believe can benefit
from the course," he says.
“The biggest mistake young entrepreneurs can make is to start a
business venture without a proper feasibility study,” says Prof
du Plessis. He should know — from 1982 to 1988 he headed up the
consultancy department of the Small Business Advisory Bureau at Potchefstroom
University.
“The typical entrepreneur has certain characteristics and traits
that distinguish them from other people,” says Prof du Plessis,
who has also worked as a senior general manager of Absa, the leading South
African bank. “One such characteristic is perseverance ... another
characteristic is self-confidence. It takes a great deal of self-confidence
to break away from the pack and go it alone.”
Perseverance and self-confidence are among the 14 characteristics of successful
entrepreneurs that Prof du Plessis will discuss during the course.
The course is designed in such a way that potential entrepreneurs are
taken through the entire business process. Topics the course will cover
include:
- How to determine whether you are an entrepreneur
- How to determine whether a business is viable or not
- How to determine the purchase price of a business and whether goodwill should be paid or not
- How to write a business plan
- How to make a success of your business with special reference to aspects such as finance, marketing techniques, customer service, human resource management and financial management
- How to compile a business plan
The course will be run at South Africa House on two evenings (6pm-8pm on July 19 and 21) as well as Saturday July 22 (9am until 4pm).
For more
details and to reserve a place contact
Tania
or Melanie at Breytenbachs on +44 (0)20 7499 3111
email Prof du Plessis or
telephone +27 (0) 18 299 1413 M:083 559 3747.
Contact:
Breytenbachs
Tania or Melanie
+44 (0)20 7499 3111
Prof Tommy
du Plessis
Director: Potchefstroom Business School (PBS)
Email: Prof Tommy
du Plessis
+27 (0) 18 299 1413
M:083
559 3747
Course
date
19 - 22 July 2006