Upon the invitation of His Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant for County Durham, along with Northumbria University’s Visiting Professor Richard Swart, Durbanite and esteemed academic, SA Chamber UK Chapter Leader David White and Andrew Kruger of DRG and BusinessFit visited Northumbria University in northeast England. Their trip included meetings with academic leadership and participation in the University’s SME Commonwealth Conference.
David and Andrew aimed to share their BusinessFit Blueprint Model, which employs a scientific approach to help SMEs build sustainable businesses that meet governance, stakeholder, and market expectations.
Professor Alan Reed, Head of the Business Faculty at Northumbria University, warmly welcomed the visitors and expressed a keen interest in BusinessFit’s commitment to SME development. He sought a deeper understanding of the model’s purpose and its value to South African and Commonwealth SMEs, particularly in relation to the South African black economic empowerment transformation legislation.
The procurement element of the South African Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (B- BEE) is significantly advancing SMEs across various sectors at a pace that surpasses many Commonwealth nations. The Act encourages large organisations to procure at least 30% of their local goods and services from SMEs and provides 3% of NPAT for the development of SMEs that are at least 51% black-owned. Furthermore, the B-BBEE Act offers bonus points for engaged SMEs that employ new staff and for large companies that provide support and mentoring before these enterprises become service providers, known as Enterprise Development.
The BusinessFit Blueprint is designed in accordance with South African conditions and legislation; however, Ed Cottam, Director of the Northumbria University Business Clinic, noted that its principles of business mindedness, sustainability, and governance are universally applicable. The Business Clinic offers final-year undergraduates and master’s students the opportunity to undertake private sector consultancy projects, supported by experienced staff.
Ed expressed enthusiasm for the simplicity of the BusinessFit Blueprint model, offering to involve the University’s computer students in developing an app for the methodology. He also suggested incorporating BusinessFit materials into the Business Clinic’s curriculum and invited David and Andrew to return to present the model’s value and methodology to students.
The Northumbria University SME Commonwealth Conference took place in the Lancaster Building in Newcastle, with Richard Swart serving as the convener and facilitator. Keynote speakers included Professor Luis G. Franceschi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, who highlighted the need for collaboration to overcome local and global challenges. He emphasised that, in an era defined by rapid change, prosperity comes from creating common value for all nations.
Kuseni Dlamini, a prominent South African figure and Chairman at Aspen Pharmacare and GIBS Business Institution, addressed the critical importance of collaboration among Commonwealth countries to foster economic growth and stability. He emphasised the positive impact of purposeful integration, participation, and teamwork on employment creation and poverty reduction.
At a dinner following the conference, Luis Franceschi learned about the Northumbria University Business Clinic’s commitment to creating the BusinessFit Blueprint App. He expressed joy at the prospect of such a development and urged a collaboration to make the app’s science and methodology accessible to all SMEs across the Commonwealth.
The agreement among Alan Reed, Ed Cottam, David White, and Andrew Kruger to Luis Franceschi’s call to action was swift. They are now working on the BusinessFit Blueprint App, which aims to help SMEs build better businesses and create more opportunities for growth and trade.
BusinessFit Blueprint: Your trading passport to business development and networking opportunities.
Download the booklet for free at www.businessfitsa.co.za
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