Heineken has sponsored the Programme every year since its launch in 2013. The funds are used to pay for small business owners in the greater Cape Town area to attend the Programme. The SBA has programmes in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.

"Over 400 small business owners have completed the SBA programme over the past 10 years," says Dr Bam.

To qualify for attending the Programme, small business owners must be from low-income communities, they must be 23 or older, and their business must have been operating for at least six months. The businesses are diverse, from media and marketing to panel beating, catering car washes, bookkeeping, farm stalls, swimming schools, and fashion, beauty and health, to name a few.

"During the 9-month programme the participants who have no formal business training learn everything about running a business," Dr Bam explains. "This includes developing business plans, keeping proper financial records, computer training, managing their taxes, generating invoices, and using social media for cost-effective marketing."

The Programme includes training, mentoring, workshops, and engaged learning with Stellenbosch Business School lecturers and MBA graduates.

The SBA programme costs approximately R70 000 per person. Participants pay R2 500 of this from their own pocket while the rest is covered by the SBA, which relies heavily on funders to cover costs. The Programme includes four face-to-face block sessions of five days each, and participants are responsible for their own transport. The participants' food and, if necessary, their accommodation are covered by the SBA.

Successful participants graduate with an NQF level 5 certificate from Stellenbosch University (SU) and, where appropriate, become suppliers to the University. They subsequently create WhatsApp groups where they can support each other’s businesses and confidently refer others.

Four of the many SBA alumni sponsored by Heineken over the years are:

Jovan Korries, founder of LBK Industries in Cape Town, completed the Programme in 2022. He has since become a vendor to SU, and the SBA is one of his clients. Jovan does their marketing banners and promotions and has been commissioned to shoot a documentary about the SBA in 2024.

Sheleen Cloete, founder of Likamva Hospitality Services, completed the Programme in 2021. Her business focuses on executive cleaning and staffing requirements in the greater Cape Town area, and among the diverse clientele are corporates, individuals, and hospitality businesses. Sheleen is originally from the Northern Cape and has spearheaded the programme extension to Springbok in the Northern Cape. She is a vendor to SU.

Lindsay Vermeulen, an accountant with an undergraduate degree in accounting, completed the Programme in 2022. She has a bookkeeping company called Bookkeepers Cape Town and she recently opened an office in Johannesburg. She deals with tax, registering of companies, and the many compliance parts of business. As an alumna, Lindsay led a master class in tax and BEE compliance for the Programme last year, and is also a vendor to SU.

Rushana Hartnick, founder of the Little Mermaids Swim School, completed the Programme in 2012 and has since graduated with an MBA from the Stellenbosch Business School, which recognises prior learning.

"We are proud of our record of small business success," says Dr Bam. "A research study in 2023 based on the Programme’s 10 years showed that 80% of the small business owners said they are still operational. Of these, 98% said their businesses have grown, and some have started additional businesses.

"If we can get small business development right we can significantly increase employment in South Africa and contribute to economic growth," Dr Bam concludes.