(Company Annoucemnets) A record total of 31 students enrolled for the Master Builders Association North’s popular Small Builders Development course which started on September 6 this year. Five of the 2014 students are based in the Mbombela (Nelspruit) area and are so keen to improve their business knowledge that they will drive all the way from the Mpumalanga capital to Midrand for the course’s 14 sessions on alternate Saturday mornings. In previous years, the Course had attracted student representation from Uganda and Limpopo province.

Speaking at the opening session of the 2014 course, Mohau Mphomela, executive director of MBA North, said the increasing involvement and participation in the MBA North offering from the three neighbouring provinces (Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and North West) which fall under the MBA North umbrella, was gratifying. Mphomela said the value of running your own business had become increasingly important in the building industry and general economy today. “MBA North is on a mission to turn contractors and sub-contractors into business people. It is our vision to create a pool of qualified sub-contractors who MBA can introduce and recommend to the major players in the industry. I would like MBA North to be the link between your small business and big contractors. I would also like to see these major companies providing some input for you in future on the challenges you are likely to encounter as your business develops,” he stated.

He also commended the sponsors who helped make the staging of the Course in 2014 possible. These include primary sponsor Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance, as well as MBA North members: Archstone Construction, Giuricich Construction, Robenco Construction, Fintrex, and 8J Construction.

The Small Builders Development Course cover topics such as:
• The various facets of running a small business;
• Finding and securing work;
• How to tender for new business;
• Carrying out and efficiently controlling building projects; as well as the
• Management of, and legislation pertaining to, small businesses