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Free State Business 2017 edition

  • Text
  • Infrastructure
  • Development
  • Province
  • Investment
  • Business
  • Network
  • Bloemfontein
  • Municipality
  • Manufacturing
  • Economic
  • Province
  • Provincial
  • African
  • Opportunities
  • Mangaung
  • Industrial
Free State Business 2017 is the seventh edition of this highly successful publication that has since its launch in 2008 established itself as the premier business and investment guide to Free State Province. Supported and utilised by the Free State Development Corporation (FDC), Free State Business is unique as a business journal that focuses exclusively on the Free State.

FOCUS Zooming into

FOCUS Zooming into Nedbank’s small business interventions Regional Manager Small Business Services, Kim Lawrence, explains how Nedbank is committed to partnering with businesses for growth. “Recognising that small businesses are the mainstay of our economy and arguably the best remedy for the country’s unemployment challenges, the bank has, over the years, instituted various interventions aimed at giving support to the small business sector. Over and above our Small Business Services solutions, we provide small business owners with support that goes beyond banking, freeing up their time to truly focus on running their businesses,” says Kim Lawrence. Nedbank has built a solid reputation as a bank for small businesses through initiatives such as Small Business Friday, free Small Business Seminars and the SimplyBiz.co.za platform – all of which are geared to support the SME sector. As an example, the Small Business Friday initiative, in association with the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC), seeks to encourage all in South Africa to rally behind and show their support to small businesses. Notwithstanding its name, the initiative calls on all in South Africa to make a conscious decision to vote small business through their hearts, feet and wallets; not only on Fridays but in their everyday lives. Supporting small businesses can translate to more sustainable economic growth, social upliftment and job creation. The biannual Nedbank Small Business Seminars (in their tenth year), are free for attendants and provide practical advice and solutions for small business owners. The inspired up-and-coming and emerging entrepreneurs that attend the seminars benefit from invaluable insight shared by small business experts. The seminars are rolled out across the country and the topics include issues such as cash-flow planning that works and turning strengths and weaknesses into more sales and profits. SimplyBiz.co za is a free-to-join value networking portal especially for small businesses. It seeks to assist small business owners facing unique challenges with valuable insights from other entrepreneurs and our seminars. Moreover, the online portal is there for small businesses to improve their business administration skills, keep up with the latest trends, network with other small businesses and share Kim Lawrence, Regional Manager Small Business Services ideas or advice. Entrepreneurs can also upload their business details and logo at no cost. Nedbank remains focused on the enhancement of growth opportunities for small businesses through improved presence and distribution of much-needed expertise that will benefit the sector. It continues to offer a full range of services to this sector, including short-term, mediumterm and long-term funding as well as transactional banking. For more information about our Small Business Services call Kim Lawrence, Regional Manager Small Business Services on +27 51 400 5700 or email kiml@nedbank.co.za FREE STATE BUSINESS 2017 34

Making banking more accessible FOCUS Nedbank’s partnership with government is gaining momentum according to Free State Regional Relationship Manager Liezel Herbst. As a bank for all, Nedbank continues to support the government’s efforts to promote sustainable socioeconomic development through financial wellness in the public sector. These efforts take place at local, provincial and government level. Nedbank has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) for the Free State and the Northern Cape, in order to create a platform through which local correctional services offices can access financial solutions and planning for employees and the community at large. “We are pleased to partner with DCS as part of our commitment to make banking more accessible to all. Nedbank provides several communities, including individual and business clients, with access to products and services through Nedbank@Work – a unique service to employees of companies who bank with Nedbank,” says Liezel Herbst. The bank offers convenient, client-centric banking by leveraging company and community relationships through a dedicated key account relationship manager. Through customised workshops Nedbank@Work ensures that employees have access to non-financial support and financial-fitness training. The workshops encompass a range of Nedbank financial solutions that can be accessed through a helpdesk, which also provides a platform for individuals and communities to submit their corporate social responsibility proposals for consideration by the Nedbank Foundation. “At Nedbank we understand that in today’s world most people are pressed for time and are not able to visit the branch, therefore delivering banking services in a seamless and convenient manner is key for us,” continues Herbst. Nedbank understands that solutions aimed at the heart of South Africa’s socioeconomic development can be found in collaboration with all key stakeholders. “While we are acutely aware that there are no quick fixes, we believe that addressing social challenges in our country is a collective responsibility and this drives our commitment to partner with government and local departments to make a tangible difference,” concludes Herbst. Liezel Herbst, Regional Relationship Manager Our range of products and services include the Nedbank Keyona Plus transactional account, which comprises funeral cover, a personal loan facility, the Just Save Account and the Send Imali money transfer solution. To encourage the youth to save and build their financial fitness from an early age, the newly launched Nedbank4me offering is based on four key pillars: 4spending, 4saving, 4growing and 4good. Nedbank4me comprises a full transactional banking account with no monthly fees, free initial transactions and thereafter reduced pay-as-youuse pricing, free eNotes and selfservice banking. For further information contact Liezel Herbst on +27 51 400 5754 or email liezelh@nedbank.co.za 35 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2017

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