Gautayatam Projects
| Business Location: | Rural |
| Province | Limpopo |
| Branch: | Capricorn |
| Business Start Date: | |
| Busniess Type: | Company |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
Bricks Manufacturing
Construction
Farming
Challenges/Needs:
Key Challenges Identified:
Lack of Assets and Capacity Resulting in Low Turnover - The business is constrained by limited assets and production capacity, which affects its ability to increase sales and meet market demand, resulting in low turnover
Non-Compliance with Tax and Labour Laws - The business is not fully compliant with tax and
labour laws, which could lead to legal issues, fines, and damage to the company’s reputation Limited Marketing Presence Posing a Hurdle to Business Growth - The company has a limited
marketing presence, making it difficult to reach new customers, increase brand awareness, and grow its customer base.
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
SEDA implements a mentorship and coaching programme. The programme, a collaborative effort between SEDA and De Beers Venetia Mine, is designed to foster meaningful partnerships between experienced professionals and emerging entrepreneurs within the Blouberg Local Municipality. Its primary aim is to support local businesses through mentorship and coaching, promoting sustainable growth and development.
The mentorship program provided targeted interventions across six key areas to support SME growth and sustainability. Sessions on Pricing/Cost Management and Marketing enabled businesses to optimize profitability and enhance competitiveness, with notable outcomes such as adjusting loss-making pricing models and obtaining marketing material from SEDA. The Accessing Corporate/Government Markets session empowered businesses with procurement insights, resulting in SMEs being listed on corporate supplier databases like ARIBA and De Beers. Meanwhile, SARS and Labour Compliance helped businesses address regulatory challenges, with SARS assisting five companies on tax matters and the Department of Labour conducting compliance visits.
Further sessions focused on Access to Funding, where companies were guided on securing financial resources, leading to three funding applications. Lastly, the Financial Records session emphasized the importance of accurate record-keeping, though limited implementation was noted. Overall, the program demonstrated significant progress in helping businesses improve operational efficiency, access new markets, and enhance compliance, while also identifying areas for further action to ensure sustained growth.
The mentorship program also included Site Visits, offering tailored support through four one-on-one coaching sessions at each entrepreneur’s business location. These visits provided individualized guidance, addressing specific challenges and opportunities unique to each business. Entrepreneurs received hands-on support in implementing strategies discussed during group sessions, enabling realtime problem-solving and progress monitoring.
The site visits also allowed mentors to assess the practical application of strategies and adjust
recommendations to align with each entrepreneur's goals and circumstances. This personalized approach ensured that interventions were not only theoretical but directly impactful, fostering growth and sustainability at the ground level.
The mentorship program provided targeted interventions across six key areas to support SME growth and sustainability. Sessions on Pricing/Cost Management and Marketing enabled businesses to optimize profitability and enhance competitiveness, with notable outcomes such as adjusting loss-making pricing models and obtaining marketing material from SEDA. The Accessing Corporate/Government Markets session empowered businesses with procurement insights, resulting in SMEs being listed on corporate supplier databases like ARIBA and De Beers. Meanwhile, SARS and Labour Compliance helped businesses address regulatory challenges, with SARS assisting five companies on tax matters and the Department of Labour conducting compliance visits.
Further sessions focused on Access to Funding, where companies were guided on securing financial resources, leading to three funding applications. Lastly, the Financial Records session emphasized the importance of accurate record-keeping, though limited implementation was noted. Overall, the program demonstrated significant progress in helping businesses improve operational efficiency, access new markets, and enhance compliance, while also identifying areas for further action to ensure sustained growth.
The mentorship program also included Site Visits, offering tailored support through four one-on-one coaching sessions at each entrepreneur’s business location. These visits provided individualized guidance, addressing specific challenges and opportunities unique to each business. Entrepreneurs received hands-on support in implementing strategies discussed during group sessions, enabling realtime problem-solving and progress monitoring.
The site visits also allowed mentors to assess the practical application of strategies and adjust
recommendations to align with each entrepreneur's goals and circumstances. This personalized approach ensured that interventions were not only theoretical but directly impactful, fostering growth and sustainability at the ground level.
Outcome Details:
Gautayatam Projects had a 75% attendance rate for site visits, indicating that the business was available for three out of the four scheduled visits. This reflects a fair level of engagement with the mentorship program's personalized support opportunities. In terms of coaching session attendance, Gautayatam participated in 4 out of 6 sessions, resulting in a 67% attendance rate.
Gautayatam Projects experienced extraordinary growth, increasing its employee count from 3 to 24, reflecting a staggering growth rate of 700%. The turnover also rose from R990,000 to R1,300,000, a growth of 31%. This substantial expansion in both workforce and revenue can be attributed to the business diversifying its operations, moving beyond its original focus on construction and branching into farming. This diversification likely created new opportunities for growth, enabling the company to tap into different markets and seasonal demands, particularly in agriculture. The shift has not only increased job creation, especially through seasonal work, but has also contributed to a significant rise in overall revenue.
Gautayatam Projects experienced extraordinary growth, increasing its employee count from 3 to 24, reflecting a staggering growth rate of 700%. The turnover also rose from R990,000 to R1,300,000, a growth of 31%. This substantial expansion in both workforce and revenue can be attributed to the business diversifying its operations, moving beyond its original focus on construction and branching into farming. This diversification likely created new opportunities for growth, enabling the company to tap into different markets and seasonal demands, particularly in agriculture. The shift has not only increased job creation, especially through seasonal work, but has also contributed to a significant rise in overall revenue.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
Satisfied and happy with SEDFA service
