New Venture Creation Programme

Purpose

The purpose of this skills programme is to prepare candidates to operate a small business. Learners who complete the programme will be able to:

• Start a small business.
• Manage a small business.
• Grow a small business.
• Sustain a small business.

Skills Rationale

Youth for Employment Services (YES) is a business-led NPO that works in partnership with government and labour to initiate policy for youth job creation. One of YES’s core strategies is the creation of new ventures, and this skills programme supports new ventures started by young people, particularly in rural areas. The programme helps trainees to:

• Start, manage, grow and sustain a small business.
• Know themselves.
• Know their industry.
• Identify market opportunities.
• Create business innovation.
• Manage finances.
• Price goods and services.
• Plan and set business goals.

Qualification & Entry Requirements

• Related registered qualification: National Certificate: New Venture Creation (SMME), NQF Level 2, SAQA Qualification ID 49648.
• Minimum entry requirement: Grade 9.

Exit Level Outcomes

On completion, learners will be able to:

• Gather and analyse information for an industry.
• Determine market requirements relevant to marketing and selling goods and services.
• Determine financial, human and infrastructure requirements.
• Manage the financial, human and infrastructure resources of a business.
• Plan for the establishment of a business.
• Organise and conduct business activities.

Assessment

Continuous Assessment

Each topic includes integrated multiple-choice questions for internal formative assessment. A pass in the topic’s formative assessment is required before progressing to the next topic. Assessments are conducted manually or through e-assessment with sufficient security.

Supervised Assessment

Learners construct a project plan that demonstrates understanding of all the modules taught. This also serves as a business plan for a new venture, or for the expansion of an existing micro-enterprise. Assessments are conducted manually or through e-assessment with sufficient security.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners may gain access to the skills programme through RPL, as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by an accredited institution, skills development provider, or workplace accredited to offer this specific skills programme. Learners who have already acquired competencies in specific modules will be exempted from those modules through RPL and awarded credits accordingly. Learners who complete this skills programme accumulate credits toward the relevant full or part qualification, under the Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) Policy.

Work Opportunities & Further Learning

Suited to learners who intend to start a business, as well as those looking to improve, stabilise, or expand an existing small business. Further learning can be pursued through the National Certificate: New Venture Creation, NQF Level 2.

Skills Development Provider Accreditation Requirements

• Facilitator: NQF Level 3 qualification in Business Studies.
• Assessor: NQF Level 3 qualification in Business Studies.
• Relevant and adequate learning material.
• A well-equipped, OHS-compliant classroom, or a digital platform (smartphone and zero-rated data).
• Learners can study independently, supported by facilitation across the different modules.

Programme Curriculum

Knowledge Component

1. Being an entrepreneur.
2. Know yourself.
3. Know your industry.
4. Identify market opportunities.
5. Innovation.
6. Customer service.
7. Financial and cash flow management.
8. Basic financial statements.
9. Pricing of goods and services.
10. Marketing.
11. SMART goals.
12. Business planning.

Practical Component

1. Basic bookkeeping.
2. Calculations & pricing.
3. Marketing project.
4. Business plan project.