The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies (MP) has approved the revised guidelines for the Black Business Supplier Development Programme (BBSDP).
The revised programme will be launched in July 2010 and applications from qualifying small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) will be accepted from 1 September 2010.
In order to enable access to the revised programme, the Department of Trade and Industry has introduced revised network facilitators' guidelines which entail a structured training programme that will enable network facilitators to use a diagnostic tool for the identification of business needs and appropriate interventions that will contribute towards the competitiveness of enterprises.
Eligible network facilitators are required to apply for the training programme to become registered facilitators for the BBSDP. The application process will be open from 17 to 28 May 2010.
Initially, only 50 network facilitators will be selected for training and the selection criteria will take into account among other things, their experience with the BBSDP, experience in SMME consulting, and the success rate of applications they have previously submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry.
The training of network facilitators will cover the following modules: the use of the company diagnostic tool, picking sound companies, business writing skills, ethics in consulting, basic understanding of company accounts and clients, assignment management as well as training on the revised BBSDP guidelines.
All applications must be submitted using the network facilitators' form obtainable from the Department of Trade and Industry website: http://www.thedti.gov.za/ or from the Department of Trade and Industry campus, block A at reception.
Interested persons can also contact The Enterprise Organisation (TEO), BBSDP unit at: 012 394 1438/1426/1794/1423
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
17 May 2010
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.thedti.gov.za/)
