Getting down to business
Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship aims to change ‘business as usual’ mindset
THE Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa hosted businessman and philanthropist Sir Richard Branson at its official launch at Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek.
The Branson Centre was opened as a social enterprise supplier-development hub with the aim of becoming the heart of entrepreneurship for southern Africa.
Zainab Slemang van Rijmenant, from Branson Centre, said: “The focus of the centre is entrepreneurship and social responsibility, including helping corporates solve their supply-chain and strategic difficulties by linking them with entrepreneurs. It does not simply enable companies to do business, their purpose is to change it for good.”
The centre’s relentless drive for entrepreneurship has driven its team to challenge the rules to find different ways to play the competitive game.
“Going forward, the Branson Centre is committed to questioning ‘business as usual’ to change things for good – for people, planet and profit.
It does this by helping entrepreneurs scale their purpose,” Van Rijmenant said.
The centre’s executive director, Wesley Noble, said: “Our vision is to become the heart of ‘changing business for good’ that supports, develops and inspires ambitious entrepreneurs to grow successful, sustainable businesses that positively affect society.
“We do this through supporting their access to market through bespoke business development support that, in turn, helps scale their purpose.”
Noble said the South African economy was dependent on entrepreneurial activity for creating future economic growth and jobs, but the economic contribution to the country’s entrepreneurial sector was below the developing country norm.