Cape Town-based small businesses were celebrated at the Productivity South Africa Milestone Workshop following their participation in the City-funded Productivity Efficiency Programme.
The programme assists SMMEs who are in distress or need guidance on improving their operations. The businesses are assessed and then given a detailed strategy on how to refine productivity and efficiencies.
‘Productivity South Africa’s team goes on site and reviews every aspect of the business, from their books to the production area and then advises on what improvements or changes are needed. The day-to-day challenges of running a business can be overwhelming. What we and Productivity SA are doing with this programme is helping business owners have a better view of their systems and operations so that they can better respond when those challenges crop up and ultimately build a more profitable and sustainable enterprise.
‘In the two and a half years that the programme has been running, 28 businesses have been supported and 776 jobs saved across industries including manufacturing, retail, and construction,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos.
One of the SMMEs that has participated in the programme was Mervyn Gers Ceramics, a Paarden Eiland-based manufacturer that produced bespoke tableware items.
After implementing the strategic plan, the business saw that on-time deliveries increased from 51% in February 2022 to 68% in March 2022, and throughput (the amount of material or items passing through a system or process) increased from 38% in March 2022 to 66% in June 2022.
To qualify for the Productivity Efficiency Programme, SMMEs must employ between 15 and 100 staff members.
To find out more about this and other enterprise support programmes, contact the Business Hub on 021 417 4043 or business.support@capetown.gov.za
The team from Lion Industries Construction Company.
Team from JBS Construction – Tinelle Pearce; Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Dane Thompson and Justin Thompson.
Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth; Keenan Carls; Gloria Josephs; Joulanda Mocke; Zoliwa Ndabakayise; Carmen Smit; Yolanda Mtungane and Kezia Lippert.
