A journey of growth that started 10 months ago is bearing fruit for local entrepreneurs from Illovo Sugar South Africa’s neighbouring communities in the Noodsberg and Eston Mills. Illovo Sugar aims to upskill local start up business owners to a level where they can run successful businesses that employ people in local communities as a way of contributing to sustainable communities.

Thuthuka Nathi is an Illovo Sugar South Africa funded enterprise and supplier development programme. This programme worked with a total of 20 youth and women business owners from the surrounding communities of the two mill, where they were guided and upskilled through the partnership Illovo Sugar SA had with Raizcorp in various elements of managing and running a business.

Illovo recently hosted the entrepreneurs and awarded the top three business improvement plans with monetary value towards investing further in their business growth.

Illovo has seen significant growth in all the businesses that were part of this programme. The entrepreneurs invested themselves and turned their businesses into profitable enterprises.