{"id":81305,"date":"2025-09-26T13:19:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T11:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/?p=81305"},"modified":"2025-09-26T13:35:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T11:35:19","slug":"spus-growth-means-growth-for-local-businesses-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/index.php\/spus-growth-means-growth-for-local-businesses-too\/","title":{"rendered":"SPU\u2019s growth means growth for local businesses too"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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At Sol Plaatje University (SPU)<\/span><\/a>, every new building or facility carries more meaning than bricks and mortar. Behind the construction sites and cranes is a deliberate effort to uplift the people and businesses of Kimberley. Through its Contractor Incubator Programme, the university is proving that infrastructure development can also be a tool for social and economic change.<\/p>

Investing in Local SMMEs<\/strong><\/p>

Between September and December 2024, SPU launched Phase 1 of its Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) Incubator Programme in partnership with Inkanyiso Consulting. The results went far beyond expectations. Instead of the targeted 10 contractors, 23 local SMMEs enrolled.<\/p>

The four-month programme was more than just another training course. It combined classroom learning with direct site visits to SPU\u2019s construction projects, giving participants a chance to see how theory applied in practice. Modules covered financial management, tendering processes, contractual compliance, health and safety and more. By the end, contractors had completed 137 assessments with an average score of 66%, meeting the competence benchmark.<\/p>

Attendance was strong, with an 81% retention rate well above typical adult training programmes. But perhaps the most important outcome was confidence. Contractor\u2019s spoke of how the programme equipped them to manage projects more effectively, handle tenders with greater assurance, and maintain compliance. They rated the programme 9.4 out of 10 for recommending to other contractors.<\/p>

Real Impact on the Local Economy<\/strong><\/p>

The impact of this initiative is already visible in Kimberley. Contractors are showing improved efficiency, stronger project management, and better compliance with industry standards. This makes them more competitive not just for SPU projects, but across the Northern Cape.<\/p>

By keeping more work in the community, SPU ensures that money spent on infrastructure supports local jobs, families and businesses. Instead of outsourcing opportunities elsewhere, the University is proving that even a young and growing institution can be an anchor for local economic development.<\/p>

Setting Clear Targets for Inclusion<\/strong><\/p>

SPU hasn\u2019t just created a training programme; it has established a model for how institutions can support local economic development. The university has committed to clear, measurable targets:<\/p>