R12 million business support and development available for 51% black-owned businesses

ACUMEN enterprise extension programme launched by Investec and Raizcorp

Investec and Raizcorp have partnered to provide business support and development worth R12 million to entrepreneurs. The partnership between Investec and Raizcorp allows selected entrepreneurs to take part in the ACUMEN enterprise extension programme.

Click here to apply for the ACUMEN programme

The innovative ACUMEN enterprise expansion programme will take 12 gifted entrepreneurs on a two-year programme towards increased profitability. ACUMEN is designed for growth-hungry entrepreneurs who require support to take their business to the next level. Valued individually at R1 million, the Raizcorp ACUMEN programme is open only to the most ambitious and tenacious entrepreneurs.

The ACUMEN programme consists of high touch entrepreneurial support and development valued at R1 million per selected entrepreneur over the course of two years.

Investec has chosen to partner with Raizcorp, an internationally recognised business and entrepreneurship development provider, to support and develop small business owners with high growth potential. Over a period of one to two years, Raizcorp manages to increase the profitability of over 95% of the businesses it supports.

Commenting on the partnership, Investec CEO Stephen Koseff said: “Entrepreneurship has always been integral to Investec’s culture and is embodied within our core values and philosophies, how we conduct ourselves and the activities in which we engage. Investec has always supported entrepreneurs, realizing the importance of the role they play in our economy. The partnership with Raizcorp is aligned with our strategy to support and develop small business owners with high growth potential.”

The 12 entrepreneurs selected for the programme will be assigned a dedicated team of five Raizcorp Guides, who will focus on strategy, finance, marketing, sales and personal development. These Guides have all been trained by the Raizcorp Guiding Academy.

Furthermore, entrepreneurs and their staff members will also have access to Raizcorp Learning, one of the incubator’s core offerings, consisting of courses and workshops tailored to the unique needs of entrepreneurs.

Applications are open for entrepreneurs who are active full-time in their 51% or more black-owned business. The business must already have been trading for at least 12 months with an average turnover of at least R50 000 per month.

Those interested in applying must fill in an online application before 17 May 2013. The application form is available online at www.raizcorp.com.

Investec’s backing of the programme will result in these entrepreneurs being able to realise their potential through the creation of a more attractive business profile, both for investors and procurement processes.

For more information, contact Raizcorp directly on 011 566 2000 or email Andisa Ngqwebo (andisan@raizcorp.com).