Developing small businesses to help them become sustainable and create jobs and value in the South African economic and social landscape, is the purpose behind SAB Lerumo, the breweries’ entrepreneur and supplier development programme.
SAB Lerumo targets black women-owned companies that are struggling to break through the barriers and improve their market access capabilities. The programme intends to impart core skills to the women to enable them to improve their market access and to better manoeuvre a large corporate with a complex procurement structure.
Some 23 entrepreneurs were selected on the basis of their capabilities and potential to thrive under a targeted growth-focused intervention.
“SAB Lerumo draws on a history of development excellence and leverages off industry thought leadership, diverse networks of business coaches and experienced industry partnerships that culminate in years of expertise that serves to enrich the entrepreneurship journey at SAB.
“We view SAB Lerumo as the catalyst for real and genuine conversations among South African female entrepreneurs – a place where colleagues can speak about their failures in an honest way,” says Doreen Kosi, Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, SAB and AB InBev.
SAB’s entrepreneurship development programmes apply a holistic approach to development by offering bespoke interventions relevant to the SMME size and sector.
SAB Lerumo is structured into nine masterclasses that run over three months, based on topics including B2B selling, human rights and labour standards, supply chain, marketing, funding and pitching.
It culminated in a Woman’s Month brunch aimed at uplifting a new generation of black-owned businesses.
The event celebrated female entrepreneurship and provides a platform for industry leaders to offer insight and guidance on female excellence and traversing complex supply chains.
Delivering the keynote address on the role of mentorship in the entrepreneurship space, Khanyi Dhlomo, founder and CEO of Ndalo Media, offered some advice to the women entrepreneurs.
“The things we want in life are not always packaged the way we think they will be – you have to look out for opportunities in all shapes and forms, and sometimes, we have to humble ourselves in order to ultimately achieve our long-term vision,” she said.
The top 10 businesses have been awarded with market access to the SAB business and were given an opportunity to showcase their businesses to other potential buyers on the day, but all 23 entrepreneurs were in attendance.
“As we come to the end of Women’s Month, we recognise, celebrate and award the 23 women entrepreneurs who have journeyed with SAB Procurement these past three months. We salute you for your determination, your resilience and most importantly, for going bravely and fiercely in the direction of your dreams!” said Zoleka Lisa, Procurement Capabilities Director of AB InBev Africa.
