Frequently asked questions  

1. Do I have to be resident in Gauteng?
Yes, the academic programme and all support services are being offered in Gauteng only.  Beyond the 10 months of direct interaction, participants will also be visited by the project team for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

2. If I am a partner in a business, can I apply?
Yes, but you must be actively involved in the running of the business.  There can only be one candidate on the programme per business.

3. Will I be considered if my business falls just outside of the turnover bracket?
There will be slight flexibility on the minimum and maximum levels based on fulfillment of the other criteria.  Women will have to show strong vision and justification for growth.

4. Are there payment terms for the commitment fee?
The R3, 000 commitment fee can be paid in two installments of 50% each. Failure to pay the commitment fee will result in disqualification from the programme.

5. What is annual personal income from the business? How does this differ from annual business income?
Personal income from the business refers to how much money you personally received from the profits your business or earned as salary.  Business income/revenue refers to how much money a company receives from sales/services rendered.

6. What if I don’t have a business registration certificate?
Only businesses with registration certificates will be considered for the programme.

7. What if I don’t have a business income and expenditure statement?
Business bank statements or other financial records showing the performance of the company over the last year may be provided in the place of an income and expenditure statement.

8. How long is the programme?
The programme consists of 4 months in the classroom (4 days per month) followed by 6 months of mentorship and networking opportunities.

9. Will the information I provide in the application form be kept confidential?
Yes, all information you provide will be kept entirely confidential and will only be viewed by the programme partners. This includes information about your personal income as well as your business revenue.

10. I am not posting my application form, how do I submit the other requested documents?
If you are emailing the application, please scan your business income information and business registration certificate and attach it to the email.

11. Are there exams? What happens if a person fails the course?
There are no examinations; however, participants will be expected to do a business plan presentation at the end of the academic programme.

12. Do you offer financial help for businesses?
No, participants are empowered with the knowledge of how to approach funders and through the networking sessions, are given access to potential funders.  However, the programme does not provide or guarantee any financial support.

Please note that revenue and turnover are being used synonymously in the selection criteria and can be defined as the income earned by the business.  The level of profitability (your income less your expenses) is NOT used as a criteria for shortlisting candidates.