The UK-South Africa Tech Hub has launched a free three-part workshop series that will allow entrepreneurs and small businesses to drive business sales and development online in COVID-19 response relief efforts.
The hub is a UK government initiative designed to build prosperity through capitalising on digital services and opportunities in partner countries.
In a statement, it says the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdown have significantly impacted the ability of local entrepreneurs and their companies to earn an income due to declines in sales and fewer opportunities to secure new business.
As a result, the hub says, now, more than ever, “entrepreneurs require online sales skills in order to survive, especially in response to the sudden global digital migration”.
“Ultimately, our aim with these workshops is to empower entrepreneurs with digital tools and promote digital inclusion and inclusive growth in South Africa,” says Shirley Gilbey, director of the UK-South Africa Tech Hub.
The hub’s initiative comes on the back of a report by McKinsey & Company, on how South African SMEs can survive and thrive post-COVID-19, which states the emergence of online marketplaces and micro-sales platforms that allow manufacturers to access new markets is one way of helping small businesses overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The UK-SA Tech Hub says its workshops will help increase entrepreneur sustainability during and post the COVID-19 crisis.
It says each workshop will focus on the practical tools and solutions that entrepreneurs can implement, and sessions will be facilitated by experts from within the start-up ecosystem, as well as marketing and sales.
The workshops will be hosted virtually via the Microsoft Teams platform.
Running from 28 September, the inaugural session will focus on how entrepreneurs can access and make use of e-commerce solutions and digital marketing initiatives to drive business sales, growth and development.
“Participants will learn how to get started selling online using payment processing apps and online retailers. They will also get a better understanding of what online sales means for African businesses in the post-COVID-19 market, plus much more,” says the hub.
Lauretta Ngakane, a mobile marketing specialist and head of communications at the eCommerce Forum SA, and Daniel Guasco, founding director of Groupon SA and Team Africa Ventures, will lead the workshop, which is also supported by The Loudhailer.
Registrations have already been opened.
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