The programme was launched in 2019 to provide support to social enterprises and start-ups that work innovatively to solve challenges in society through their entrepreneurial activities. Picture: Dumisani Sibeko.
BARLOWORLD’S Mbewu flagship entrepreneurial programme has called on social entrepreneurs to submit their entries for the 2021/22 programme.
The programme was launched in 2019 to provide support to social enterprises and start-ups that work innovatively to solve challenges in society through their entrepreneurial activities.
Noluvo Ngcwabe, Barloworld’s head of corporate social investment, said yesterday that through the Mbewu platform the firm sought to unlock the potential of this growing sector of the economy and provide promising start-ups with the ability to scale up and reach their full potential.
“Barloworld is acutely aware of the challenges facing South Africa and how the outbreak of Covid-19 has exacerbated the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. Mbewu represents a tangible intervention that Barloworld has put in place to use the transformative power of social entrepreneurship to be a catalyst of positive social change,” said Ngcwabe.
Social enterprises that would be considered for incubation in the Mbewu programme included technology start-ups, and those that were active in agriculture (including agro-processing), industrial services, the green economy, the creative industry and social innovation.
The finalists would be incubated into the Mbewu programme and join the ranks of past social entrepreneurs who were already blazing a trail in their respective industries. Successful candidates incubated into the Mbewu programme would receive mentorship, funding to scale up their operations and access to markets.
given.majola@inl.co.za
BUSINESS REPORT ONLINE
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