Kieno Kammies, CEO of Business Solutions, Candy Tothill, manager of group internal communications and special projects at Tsogo Sun, Emma Mataku, owner of Zwinoni Lodge, and Judi Sandrock, CEO of MEDO. Photo supplied by MEDO.
South African Micro Enterprise Development Organisation (MEDO) has collaborated with hotel group Southern African hotel group Tsogo Sun, aiming to improve entrepreneur facilitations in South Africa.
HumanIPO reported last month on MEDO’s partnership with the University of Stellenbosch’s Business school (USB).
Through the partnership with Tsogo Sun, MEDO will have access to venues for programmes.
Tsogo will also supply the MEDO team and participating entrepreneurs with accommodation during business trips and courses with the goal of business expansions for startups involved.
In turn, MEDO will assist Tsogo Sun with their Book-a-Guesthouse programme as part of the hotel group’s SunCares sustainability tourism plan.
Book-a-Guesthouse incorporates both entrepreneurial and community development, as well as environmental management to promote job creation.
With more than 258 job opportunities supplied so far, more than 2,000 jobs are in the pipeline and 60 entrepreneurs participating in the three year-long phased course.
The programme aims to support black South Africans, especially women, who operate their own guesthouses.
Candy Tothill, manager of group internal communications and special projects manager at Tsogo Sun, said: “We are…looking forward to extending our support to entrepreneurs in other industries in South Africa through our wonderful new partnership with MEDO.”
Tothill believes the collaboration will add more value to the programme attendees’ experience with specialised, professional business skill offerings by MEDO.
Apart from developing South African entrepreneurs, MEDO assists companies with Enterprise Development (ED) strategies, operational roll-out plans, investment priorities and other complementing services in support of Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).
The entrepreneurial organisation has also developed a Supplier Development Programme in preparation for the revised B-BBEE codes awaited in 2013.
Judi Sandrock, joint chief executive officer (CEO), said: “Tsogo Sun realises the value they can add to their industry, being the most dominant player in the industry.
“The view is that if small businesses can grow the overall sector grows and our country benefits in the long run. It’s a progressive and abundance mentality view that drives the Book-a-Guesthouse programme.”
