Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs’ newest intake of 20 businesses into its 12-month development programme commenced with a two-day induction seminar on 26 and 27 January at the Garden Court OR Tambo hotel, bringing the total number of entrepreneurs supported by the programme since 2005 to 200.
Over the years Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs has enabled many small business successes, provided practical support through the development programme, encouraged transformation to a more empowered society, and recognised excellent entrepreneurial performance through the prestigious annual Tsogo Sun Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for the top performers. The programme also provides a valuable platform for successful entrepreneurs – those who have overcome the odds against them – to be strong role models to other aspiring entrepreneurs.
The 2017 induction orientated new entrepreneurs into the programme through workshops and presentations that will help them to fully embrace the entrepreneurial role and learn to anticipate challenges, and to identify their own strengths. They also learned what the partnership with Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs means and how they can maximise the opportunities that it presents. At the end of the programme, the inductees signed letters of commitment.
Says Candy Tothill, Tsogo Sun’s GM of Corporate Affairs, “We work at bringing improvements into the programme every year based on learnings and experience, and this year we introduced business and financial analysis and behavioural assessment. These tools will help us to engage with the entrepreneurs at an operational level and provide toolkits that can be implemented where we identify gaps in their business operations.”
This year’s diverse intake includes an arts and crafts business, hotel amenities, after-school care education, a clothing cooperative, cleaning services, catering, accommodation, venue hire, linen recycling, equipment hire, tour operator, spa treatments, gardening services, building maintenance, and cleaning detergents. Just over 50% of the participants are in the tourism industry, specifically accommodation, restaurants, and hotel amenities. The inductees are based in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Western Cape.
Adds Tothill, “Having a diverse group of entrepreneurs in our programme expands its scope and also creates a pool of businesses that can trade with each other.
We have high hopes for these entrepreneurs. They are already achievers in their own rights; we aim to help them improve their business performance, gain access to new markets, create more jobs and contribute to our country’s growing economy.”
About Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs
Tsogo Sun develops small, medium and micro enterprises as a solution to creating employment and as a contributor towards transformation and the growth of the South African economy.
The Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs programme comprehensively supports emerging businesses in all industries through coaching, mentorship and the provision of various benefits required to build sustainable enterprises.
The success stories of 200 small businesses who are supported by the Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs programme are evidence of the impact achieved by Tsogo Sun in the group’s quest to facilitate legitimate interventions that contribute towards lasting and positive change for a better world.
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About Tsogo Sun
Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.
The company’s hospitality interests offer a wide distribution of hotels in Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets, including elegant, individually branded luxury hotels and well-known trusted market leaders in the premier through budget segments, including Southern Sun Hotels, Garden Court, SunSquare, StayEasy and SUN1 hotels.
The exciting urban and resort casino portfolio includes the most popular entertainment destinations, strategically located throughout South Africa. In the Gauteng province, Tsogo Sun owns the group’s flagship property, Montecasino in Fourways, which features, amongst other attractions, the award-winning Teatro; Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg; and Silverstar Casino to the West in Krugersdorp.
Additional properties are owned and operated in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, including the jewel on Durban’s Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment.
Tsogo Sun Citizenship is the group’s corporate citizenship strategy which encompasses three areas of focus.
This includes Corporate Social Investment, whereby the group promotes the development of learners through three academies which offer holistic, full-year programmes centred around sport, art and education; Entrepreneur Development which focuses on skills-based entrepreneurial development through its Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse and Supplier Development programmes; and Environmental Education, committed to initiatives that reduce the impact the business has on the environment.
Tsogo Sun (“TSH”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The key shareholders of Tsogo Sun are Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (“HCI”), a JSE listed investment holding company.
Tsogo Sun Gaming supports the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Winners know when to stop. Only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. National Problem Gambling counselling toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008.
For more information go to tsogosun.com, follow us on Twitter @TsogoSun or like us on Facebook /TsogoSun.