the facilitator
The entity was thus created with the aim of supporting companies, entrepreneurs and catalyst projects in the province in accessing finance, in order to leverage employment and improve the competitiveness of the economy (by promoting, training and facilitating companies' access to funds), and also with the aim of assisting the department in strategic activities and projects, advising on organizational dynamics and change management, in the implementation of business and the like. The created entity does not provide equity or debt financing, but rather facilitates the process through which companies can access funds from provincial and national finance and development institutions (DFIs), international organizations and other specialized entities; It basically works as a bridge between companies and funds, acting as a facilitator.
Leader in financing
LBC accompanied the process from the beginning, helping the department to idealize, develop and implement the entity, which involved several stages, from the creation of the website (which has an online financing simulator) to the opening of the headquarters/office in the city of Durban. The communication plan, for example, contemplated creating awareness and developing the market: expanding the reach of the new entity and increasing its opportunities via communication activities for specific target audiences, including the media; develop, encourage and form partnerships in order to support the entity's activities as a business consultant (especially in finance/financing), positioning it as a high performance organization, being recognized as such, and a national leader in financing advice , promoting similar initiatives in the rest of the country. This is a project that started at the end of 2015 and was ongoing in 2016.