Sasol Enterprise and Supplier Development

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Sasol Enterprise and Supplier Development

The development of entrepreneurs is one of the most effective ways of stimulating economic growth, transformation and the creation of jobs in our communities. We recognise that a growing small, medium and micro-sized enterprise (SMME) sector is vital for broadening economic participation and delivering on our country’s economic development objectives.
Sasol’s Enterprise and Supplier Development function was established to ensure focused and integrated delivery of Sasol’s programmes aimed at contributing to the development of the SMME sector and the diversification of our supplier pool.
Our approach to enterprise and supplier development is to nurture, grow and sustain SMMEs by providing technical and business development support, through mentoring and coaching. In addition we provide loan funding to our qualifying SMME suppliers through the Sasol Siyakha Enterprise and Supplier Development Fund (“Sasol Siyakha Fund”).
Through our R53 million Sasol Business Incubator facility which was developed in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, located in Sasolburg, we provide start up SMMEs with business development support, funding solutions, infrastructure and offices.
INTRODUCTION
The Sasol Business Incubator (SBI) is located at the Eco-industrial Park in the industrial heart of Sasolburg and was developed through a public-private partnership between Sasol and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) to accelerate the successful development primarily of local start-up small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The objective is to promote the sustainability of start-up SMMEs by providing an array of business, technical and financial related support solutions together with fully equipped manufacturing facilities, essential business infrastructure and a network of experts and services.
The facility comprises five main areas including:

  • A 2 000m2 double storey Main Building  consisting of conference, meeting and  training venues, an entertainment area and  offices for service related enterprises.
  • SBI One is a 500m2 area divided into three general, small scale manufacturing spaces and 12 incubatee offices.
  • SBI Two is a 500m2 area that has a large chemical storage and dispensing facility, four partitioned spaces for manufacturing of chemicals and cosmetics, four final product storage spaces, a central facility for packaging and labelling, a raw material storage space and a small laboratory for general analysis
  • SBI Three is a 450m2 area that contains three partitioned spaces and a communal production area for the manufacturing of plastic products.
  • SBI Four is a 450m2 area allocated as a single space for mechanical fabrication.

The intention is to enable and host a sustainable economic ecosystem comprising a diverse mix of SMMEs, service providers and stakeholders that can support each other as well as other businesses located in the Eco-industrial Park.
VALUE PROPOSITION
The incubation model supports SMMEs in two distinct phases namely – physical and virtual. Physical incubation support ranges from 3 to 12 months during which time they should graduate and leave the incubation facility with the intention of establishing their enterprise in the Eco-industrial Park. During the virtual phase, the SBI team of Incubator Specialists will continue to support these enterprises for 24 months to ensure sustainability.
BUSINESS INCUBATOR OPERATING MODEL

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
The SBI team of Incubation Specialists will guide each Incubatee during, the start-up and commercialisation of their enterprise and will also provide or facilitate the following services to the SMMEs:

  • Funding solutions
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Access to expert networks
  • Monthly engagement sessions and workshops

OFFICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Excellent, serviced office space is available to Incubatees at an affordable rate. The rate includes shared access to resources and facilities including admission control and security, receptionist, telephone, fax machine, Wi-Fi network, computer, printer, cleaning service, maintenance and beverages (tea and coffee).  In addition, the four conference rooms on the ground floor are available to hire on an hourly basis.
FUNDING SOLUTIONS
Depending on the development requirements of the enterprise in the incubation programme, development funding may be afforded to assist the enterprise in the start-up process. This could amongst others include, but is not limited to, development funding for training, quality management systems, Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) processes, Human Resources (HR) support, branding, corporate identity and marketing. If the business is awarded a contract with Sasol and becomes a Sasol supplier then the Siyakha Loan Funding facility may be considered.
ENTRY CRITERIA
The following entry criteria applies for the Sasol Business Incubator:
For all the SBI Buildings:

  1. Registration documentation available or in progress
  2. >51% Black Ownership
  3. Willing to operate enterprise from the Incubator on a daily basis
  4. Proven business concept or plan
  5. Qualifications (relevant tertiary or technical qualification such as NTC or B-degree), skills/experience (evidence provided of experience in relevant service sector – minimum 9 months) and/or Certifications (relevant certification from industry accreditation body).
  6. Start-up with no market share or commercialized of products / services

For SBI 1 – Small Scale Manufacturing:

  • Viable and proven business concept and equipment

For SBI 2 – Chemical and Cosmetic Manufacturing

  • Chemical and/or cosmetic formulations available for production

For SBI 3 – Plastics Manufacturing

  • Moulds available for production

For SBI 4 – Mechanical Fabrication:

  • Engineering drawings and specifications available for production

For SBI Main Building  – Services

  • Start up or supplier that contributes to the business ecosystem

HOW TO APPLY
Step 1
Send an email to info.esd@sasol.com , provide a brief overview of your business and state your interest in applying to the SBI.
Step 2
You will receive an automated reply with an application form. Complete the form and attach all relevant business documents and email it back to info.esd@sasol.com.
Step 3
Your application form will be assessed by the Incubation Manager and if it has met all the entry critria (as mentioned above) an Incubation Specialist will contact you directly and guide you further through the process.
For more details about Sasol’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme contact us on: 011 344 2416 or info.esd@sasol.com
Click here for the Sasol Business Incubator Quick Information Sheet.
Click here to learn more.