| Kuils River business thrives with support from City’s EPWP Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme | Kuils River business thrives with support from City’s EPWP Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/EPWP%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>Mampho Sotsongaye’s business, Golden Rewards, is experiencing significant growth thanks to the City of Cape Town's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme. This initiative, aimed at bolstering small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), has been instrumental in advancing her road maintenance and vegetation clearing business. <br></p> | <p>Established in 2012, Golden Rewards, based in Kuilsriver, began with a team of 85 employees. Despite the challenges of navigating a male-dominated industry, Mampho's dedication and leadership have driven her business forward. With the support of the programme, Mampho has expanded her team from 85 to 132 employees and now seeks a larger operational space to accommodate this growth.</p><p>Leadership training was particularly impactful for Mampho. This training module focused on inspiring the entrepreneurs to make personal development and growth a way of life, as too often the rigours of operating a business can get in the way of continuous personal growth and self-improvement. </p><p><span></span></p><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Entrepreneur%20Mampho%20Sotshongaye%20with%20Certificate%20of%20Recognition%20from%20The%20City%20of%20Cape%20Town.jpg" alt="" style="width:1782px;" /></figure>She is also transferring this culture to staff with a concept known as Round Table Thursdays where the team shares their personal journeys and experiences. This has deepened and strengthened relationships within the team, and inspired employees to see work as a place for personal growth instead of just a chore. As a result of training, she has bought into the idea that the benefits of personal growth to mental and emotional health help drive productivity and strengthen the foundations of the business.<div><br></div><div>'Being given a personal coach who helped me look long and hard at myself, my past and my vision for the future, and has unlocked so many possibilities.<p><br></p><p>'As an entrepreneur the challenges can be overwhelming, so that personal development aspect (of the training) has helped me a lot. I'm not the same Mampho I was when I started the company. Now, I'm a wife and mother of three, and the business leader. I lost Mampho along the way and that affected my growth. The coaching helped me find that person again, and learn to forgive myself for my mistakes. A business doesn't just need you, it needs your family's support as well,' said Mampho. </p><p>Mampho's vision of imparting the skills she has gained has also led to a partnership with the College of Cape Town, where she offers practical experience and mentorship for students who will hopefully write their own success stories one day. <br></p><p> </p><br><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/%28L%20to%20R%29%20Cllr%20Kariena%20Mare%2c%20Mampho%20Sotshongaye%2c%20Cllr%20Alderman%20Twigg.jpg" alt="" style="width:1140px;" /></figure><p>'The City of Cape Town is dedicated to leveraging the EPWP to enable real economic growth and uplift disadvantaged communities. Mampho's story is a testament to the transformative impact of the EPWP Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.<br></p><p><strong>About the Programme</strong></p><p>The EPWP Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme, now in its third year equips entrepreneurs with essential skills to meet these goals through comprehensive training and development modules provided by the University of the Western Cape. These modules cover financial management, marketing, leadership, and more, coupled with personalised coaching and mentorship.<br></p><p>The impact of the programme over the past two years has been profound, fostering job creation and revenue growth among participating enterprises.<br></p><p> <br></p><p><strong>End</strong></p></div> | 2024-06-12T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#8116a21d-447e-4cb0-b50d-1fbd04f4b2f0;L0|#08116a21d-447e-4cb0-b50d-1fbd04f4b2f0|EPWP;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#54dcbf98-8732-4845-8df8-1ca538ff542c;L0|#054dcbf98-8732-4845-8df8-1ca538ff542c|training and development;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | Media Office, City of Cape Town | 0 |
