Absa Invites Youth Business Owners To The SME Funding Readiness Webinar Series

Absa Invites Youth Business Owners To The SME Funding Readiness Webinar Series. As part of an active commitment to support women entrepreneurs, Absa in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, is launching a capacity building training programme specifically designed to help level the playing field for women in business.

The training programme is designed to address the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs by leveraging the expertise and resources of all three partners. Using different learning platforms, the programme will deliver tailored training, mentorship and financial solutions to help fill in the skills gap currently faced by business owners.

“In striving to create inclusive access to finance, we recognise the need for a holistic approach to empower entrepreneurs, particularly women, with the tools they need to succeed in today’s competitive business environment,” said Sanah Gumede, Managing Executive for Strategy and Customer Value Management at Absa Relationship Banking. “From our ongoing discussions with business owners, we have identified a need for skills development training on business strategy and financial management with the aim of helping them scale their businesses and accessing funding.”

Through a series of webinars, a specialised SME Business School and the International Leadership Academy, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to network and engage with industry leaders.

The Funding Readiness Webinar Series, aimed at providing knowledge on getting a business funding ready, is open to all women and youth owned businesses to attend free of charge. The series will include actionable insights, practical strategies, and real-world examples to help women navigate the complexities of preparing to apply for business funding and guide them in making informed financial decisions.

The following topics will be covered:

• 29 August 2024 – Strategic Visioning and Long-term Planning
• 26 September 2024 – Fundamentals of Financial Management
• 31 October 2024 – Financial Goals: Budgeting and Forecasting
• 28 November 2024 – Marketing and Exploring New Markets
• 5 December 2024 – Attracting Investment: Making Your Business Appealing to Investors

Follow this link to register for free: https://eur.cvent.me/NkbyM

Providing a structured learning environment, the Absa SME Business School will be open to select women-owned Absa SME clients and will cover business planning, financial management, team building and productivity, among others. The learning is delivered by industry leaders and is a unique opportunity for business owners to engage in practical workshops and network.

As an added incentive, selected Absa clients will be given the opportunity to attend the Frankfurt School of Finance International Leadership Academy in Germany. The week-long programme aims to increase leadership effectiveness through a unique combination of coaching, networking and analytical reflection.

“We are committed to supporting women at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey and hope that this collaboration breaks down barriers and creates a more equitable business environment. As a banking group with an ambition to be an active force for good in everything that we do, we embrace our responsibility in enabling a conducive environment for businesses operated by women to exist, be formalised and sustainable,” concludes Gumede.