SME Growth Exporter Programme (South Africa)

Objectives

• The SME Growth Exporter Programme in partnership with FNB supports businesses that are already exporting, either directly or indirectly, by walking the export scale up journey with them through access to skills, market and funding. With a high touch development Growth Plan delivered over the 18-month intervention, the SME Growth Exporter Programme in partnership with FNB aims to drive business development and sustainability by strengthening trade relations, reach and market access. The programme objectives will provide participants with a holistic approach to;
  • Improved trade knowledge and operation processes: Deep focus on trade knowledge share and development to improve export and import processes, regulation, business models and operations.
  • Improve business efficiencies and sustainability: Focus on business skills development with general financial, growth and business efficiencies such as capacity, cost controls, pricing, systems, processes, tools
  • Improve business growth: Through access to markets and lowering barriers to entry, SMEs will increase markets and countries of reach, research and exit unprofitable markets, increase the number of customers and distributors, and improve revenues and profitability
• The SME Growth Exporter Programme in partnership with FNB provides multiple core programme resources, interventions and access to funding opportunities that are all structured with three key focus areas in mind;
  • Export Product Development: Market-specific product development and new market alignment, product packaging, product certification and modifications as well as increasing product line and offering to access or test new potential markets.
  • Trade Operations: Unlocking operations and trade barriers to accessing export-specific markets in relation to ways of work, operational processes or regulation
  • International (and Regional) Market Access: Direct market access opportunities, trade facilitations and relation support to increase international trade and export orders
• The programme leverages the ESD financial and non-financial support ecosystem which First Rand has developed, by providing participants on this programme with tailored Business Development Support (BDS) to improve growth and funding readiness. This includes the opportunity for programme participants to apply for innovative funding solutions to further propel business growth.

Focus Areas

• The SME Growth Exporter Programme is a tailored, comprehensive and intensive approach that focuses on 3 key areas to drive sustainable growth;
  • Access to Skills:
    • Through programme interventions, participants will receive practical general business and export training focused on the concepts that matter most to improving your return on export efforts. Ongoing, intense support and resources are provided via a general business mentor, export product mentor, special projects and focused export experts will embed the concepts that matter most to drive growth and business sustainability.
  • Access to Market:
    • Pre-trade show and pre-sale support to increase the return of sales efforts and maximise available opportunities to engage buyers to close a new sale or increase sales. A dedicated access to market resource is provided in the programme to support on identifying opportunities, working with beneficial third parties to unlock funding and access as well as support in lowering barriers to trade and regulations.
  • Access to Funding:
    • Access to growth funding, to meet increasing demand on production and scale, is guided by a dedicated funding support participating to participating SMEs to increase the exposure to available funding opportunities that are fit-for-market, need and SME life stage.

Categories

• Potential programme participants are required to be exporting either a good or goods manufactured in one or more of the key product categories:
  • Food products: Processes foods and fresh produce
  • Beverages: Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Ready-to-Wear: Apparel and Jewellery
  • Home Goods: Leather goods, gifting and decor
  • Non-Prescription Health: Beauty products, over the counter health, wellness and vitamin products

Programme Duration

• The SME Growth Exporter Programme in partnership with FNB is an 18-month intensive and well resourced programme.

Eligibility Criteria

• SME’s are encourage to apply for the innovative programme that meet the programme requirements.
  • SME’s who manufacture and export goods in either;
    • Food products: Processes foods and fresh produce
    • Beverages: Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
    • Ready-to-Wear: Apparel and Jewellery
    • Home Goods: Leather goods, gifting and decor
    • Non-Prescription Health: Beauty products, over the counter health, wellness and vitamin products
  • A minimum of 51% black ownership
  • A maximum annual turnover of R40 million
  • Have at least 3 months working capital or runway
  • Must be compliant with the South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) (PAYE, VAT etc);
  • Consent to the necessary credit and background checks;
  • Not be enrolled in another business development support programme;
  • Have no legal matters outstanding against the business;
  • Not be in business rescue or liquidation process;
  • Must have a growth mindset and be willing to commit an 18-month programme, and
  • Have a dedicated senior manager/founder for programme commitments,

Application Requirements

• Documentation they will request:
  • CIPC registration documents
  • ID copies of all directors
  • Must be able provide 1 year management accounts or 12 months bank statements from a business bank account
  • A valid BBBEE certificate (you can upload a valid sworn affidavit or a CIPC copy of your BBBEE certificate)
  • Latest Tax Clearance Certificate
  • Be able to provide valid documentation for necessary product and market related regulations and certifications

For more information, visit Edge Growth.