Khoza, who manages Khoza Projects in Protea- Soweto, is one of the
graduates that were awarded certificates at the Builders Enterprise Development (ED) Programme, recently.
The 12 months programme is an initiative by one of South Africa’s building material company Builders Superstore (Massmart owned) that seeks to improve informal local tradesmen businesses by imparting industry focused skills and knowledge in financial management, marketing, customer service which puts their businesses in the right direction for growth.
Khoza Project that specializes in tiling and roofing; has created 8 permanent jobs in Protea, thanks to an opportunity afforded by Builders Superstore.
“My gratitude goes also goes to Black Suppliers that gave us the opportunity to learn what my business should entail and how to mitigate difficulties along the way,” says Khoza, who plans in three years’ to grow his company to tender for bigger projects in Gauteng.
Albeit big contracts are given to reputable companies, we should also be considered says his counterpart Monde Nqola, from Moreso Plumbers.
Monde a business operator from Soweto, cried foul on big projects handed to bigger organizations saying ‘they do not consider us’.
“My hope is after all this hard work, we shall be considered because we now have the expertise and skills matching those companies to execute the work required,”says Monde, who plans to open a Plumbing School in Soweto within five years’.
“The reason for opening such school was as a result of struggling to get people with skills to work with me hence for now I have two-temporary workers. It can’t be that Soweto with a huge population, skills are scarce,” he pointed out with a concern.
The beneficiaries will embark on five months of mentoring and coaching upon graduating.
This will take in a form of sessions with each beneficiary to ensure that they can apply what they have learned to their businesses.
The first six months of the programme focused on training in basic business management and technical skills in the respective trades such as building, painting, plumbing and tiling.
The next six months is dedicated to implementation and evaluation.
Graduates were chosen from communities in Gauteng where Builders operates: Alexandra, Tembisa, Cosmo City, Evaton, Protea Glen, Sebokeng and Vosloorus.
Twenty-four tradesmen and women graduated with a Certificate of Completion for Level Three (Construction SETA) Business Training Programme.
Petunia Fantisi, a Builder from Evaton said: “The Builders ED Programme, in association with Black Suppliers has empowered me in the following critical areas of business: financial management, marketing, customer service and negotiation skills.
Through the programme I was able to legitimize my business by registering my company.”
According to Asanda Nkomo- Public Relations Officer at Builders Superstore, each beneficiary was helped with formal registration of their business with CIPC, company branding and material (i.e. flyers and business cards), smartphones, new overall set as well as Builders building material and tools to the value R40 000.
The next intakes will learn a valuable lesson from this programme, as it gives you freedom to operate your business legitimately, agreed both Monde and Thembikosi.
The next recruitment starts on 1 April 2018, details will be available at your nearest Builders Superstore.
For work purposes you can reach both companies:
Thembikosi Khoza: Khoza Projects (071 900 7155)
Monde Nqola: Moreso Plumbers (073 672 0027)
