In celebration of entering its third decade the West Coast Business Development Centre (WCBDC) is revamping its offering to local businesses in the West Coast.
The WCBDC specialises in helping small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
The beginning
The centre was initiated by a group of small business owners in collaboration with Saldanha Steel (ArcelorMittal, South Africa).
It was set up in response to the commissioning of Saldanha Steel and its projected procurement from businesses within the local community to meet its Black Economic Empowerment imperatives.
Formally established in 1998, the WCBDC was created with the aim of facilitating a structured approach to securing business opportunities for small businesses in the area.
The initial funders of the Centre included the Saldanha Steel Project, the Saldanha Bay Municipality, Namakwa Sands, the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Eskom.
The focus of the WCBDC was providing workshops on tendering processes, business plan development, and general business skills.
Decades later . . .
Twenty-one years later, the WCBDC has extended its footprint and continues to provide business development services to the communities of the West Coast with offices in Saldanha Bay, St Helena Bay and Piketberg.
Today the Centre is funded by a range of corporations operating in this area. A partnership between the municipality, the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ), the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership (EDP) and the Centre was formed to assist in revitalising the WCBDC.
Through the partnership existing services will be enhanced.
This will include the community at large, the business community, the public sector as well as public sector agencies.
Someone new at the helm
As part of this revitalisation process, an interim General Manager, Lynn Maggott, was appointed in April. Maggott gained experience in the development of small, micro and medium enterprises at incubators in Mitchells Plain and Kimberley.
Maggott says she is excited about the challenge and looks forward to engage with stakeholders to achieve the Centre’s objective.
As part of the engagement the EDP will be hosting events, on behalf of the WCBDC. Stakeholders will be able to give their valuable input at these sessions as to how the WCBDC will position itself for the future.
The WCBDC has been part of the greater Saldanha Bay area for many years and has assisted a great number of entrepreneurs in growing their business.
Tried and tested
Charles Arendse of Inyameko Trading has been a client of the WCBDC for the past 20 years.
He currently employs 45 people in his business.
Arendse provides maintenance services to the marine industry which include marine and industrial coating, sandblasting and maintaining fleets of trawlers in the harbours of Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha Bay.
“I owe my success, in part, to the WCBDC who’s assistance with several services has resulted in my business gaining access to finance and markets,” Arendse says.
Lizle Marcus of Swartland and Westcoast Trading started her business three years ago with the help of the Centre. Now she provides gardening, tree felling, waste removal and disposal services.
She said her relationship with the WCBDC provided her with access to information and opportunities that allowed her to respond and in turn, grow the business.
Through the WCBDC she accessed tenders, received training and could access funding opportunities. Marcus operates in an extremely competitive and male dominated industry which has made her even more determined to succeed.
Looking to the future
The WCBDC wishes to continue to be a centre of value for its clients. As such, all small, medium and micro-enterprises, corporates, training institutions/providers, local and provincial government are strongly encouraged to attend engagements as part of ongoing efforts to build a resilient and inclusive economy on the West Coast.
. Look out for further information on how you can be involved. If you want to contact the WCBDC, dial 022 714 1731, SMS or WhatsApp on 083 282 9803 or send an e-mail to office@wcbdc.co.za.
