Eskom boosts female owned businesses and entrepreneurs with disabilities Eskom is targeting more participation from small businesses
Question:
Eskom boosts female owned businesses and entrepreneurs with disabilities “Eskom is targeting more participation from small businesses owned by women and people with disabilities in its 2021 Business Investment Competition and Business Connect”, says Eskom Development Foundation (ESDEF) Chief Executive Officer, Cecil Ramonotsi. “Eskom realises that entrepreneurs owned by women and people with disabilities face many more stumbling blocks than small businesses in general. The women and disabled community continues to be marginalised and, to this end, we are making a concerted effort to encourage these groups of entrepreneurs to enter our 2021 Business Investment Competition which seeks to contribute to their growth and sustainability, as well as to help them thrive in these tough economic times,” explained Ramonotsi. Eskom’s annual Business Investment Competition (BIC) targets small businesses in the manufacturing, agriculture and agri-processing, construction and engineering, and trade and services sectors. The businesses must have been in existence for two years or more to enter. Studies show that although South Africa is advanced in terms of its policies to include women and people with disabilities in mainstream economic activity, the problem lies in the implementation of the policies. “Of the 2.25 million small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, a small percentage consists of businesses owned by female entrepreneurs and people with disabilities, yet support has been minimal. A 2018 study by the University of the Witwatersrand School of Economic & Business Sciences found that the top six challenges facing entrepreneurs living with disabilities include: lack of equipment and machinery, discrimination, lack of networking platforms, access to start-up capital, lack of government support as well as education and training.
In this module you were informed that potential entails what people can become, that is to say, their ability to be more than what they are at the present moment.
1.1. Discuss the three (3) different components of potential that exist and give at least one example of each component of potential that can be used to assess entrepreneurs for this competition.
Use the following format to structure your answers.
Components of Potential | A short description of examples of each component of potential that can be used to assess entrepreneurs for this competition |
1.2. Think about the components of potential – do you think you may have the potential to start your own business? Give a personal example of each of the components of potential that you think you have.
1.3. Which three elements are the most important for small businesses to be or become learning organizations? Substantiate your suggestions.
1.4. Eskom supports small businesses within the country, explain how these small entrepreneurs contribute to the expansion of South Africa’s economy. Provide an example of at least one entrepreneurial opportunity that can offer you the chance to become your “own boss”.
1.5. The three main types of disability are described as physical impairments, mental/psychological impairments, and sensory impairments. Give one example of each of these types of disability, and explain how each of these disabilities can hurt entrepreneurs with disabilities in the day-to-day running of their businesses (for example, in responding to tender requests or participating in this competition by Eskom) and how Eskom can make reasonable accommodations for each of these types of disability in the competition.