"Profit through Partnership"
Sustainable Enterprise and Supplier Development
Certify - Capacitate - Connect
WHO WE ARE
The Business Associate is an Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) organization established in 2006.
Our aim is to facilitate both demand-side and supplyside interventions to create a more INTEGRATED & INCLUSIVE South African economy. Focussing on:
- ESD and Procurement
- Sourcing transact-ready small businesses
- Developing and growing small businesses
- Facilitating business linkages
HOW CAN WE ASSIST YOU?
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
- Spend Management
- Supplier Development
- Supplier Diversity
- B-BBEE & ESD Consulting
ENTREPRENEURS & SUPPLIERS
- Compliance (Certification)
- Business Development (Capacitate)
- Business Linkages (Connect)
OUR BACKGROUND
The Business Associate was started by Joseph Ruiters (an ex-procurement specialist) to deal with the readiness and responsiveness of black businesses and entrepreneurs. Transact-readiness of suppliers is our focus.
Our expertise and knowledge have strategically supported organisations, like Nordex-Acciona, City of Cape Town, etc. in positioning Enterprise & Supplier Development to attract optimum BBBEE points and achieve its supply chain objectives (quality & competitive suppliers).
Our knowledge of B-BBEE has assisted many government institutions, renewable energy clients, construction and transport organisations to improve their B-BBEE levels and subsequently they became more competitive.
OUR SERVICE OFFERING
ENTERPRISE & SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Development and Implementation of ESD Programs
MARKET ACCESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
A virtual incubation support programme for Entrepreneurs
BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES
Business Development Services that is aimed to grow small businesses
B-BBEE SUPPORT
Verification Preparation Support
TENDER SUPPORT
Tender training and tender advice
CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING
Offering entrepreneurship training programs
MENTORING & COACHING
Mentoring and coaching to develop small businesses
EMBEDDING ESD
We provide strategic, tactical and operational support to organisations to embed ESD as a supply chain intervention that leads to the following benefits:
- Increased Sales Revenues – More Customers – Greater Market share – Increased profitability & shareholder value
- Transformation shift towards the demographics of South Africa
- SD/ ED aligned to mainstream procurement activity
- Access the Buying Power of Diverse Consumers / Suppliers
- Meetiing of B-BBEE Targets
- Access to a pool of transact EME & QSE Suppliers
“As we expand we need to ask ourselves who our suppliers of the future will be and how can we develop our suppliers to partner with us and to maintain relevance in the future.”
Our ESD and implementation consists of all the activities involved in improving a supplier`s performance and/or expanding their capabilities in order to meet a company’s supply and service needs.
Ensuring that beneficiaries (Black Suppliers and SMME’s) are well equipped and prepared to supply opportunities within organizations and be relevant to the global economy.
OUR COMPLETED PROJECTS
SUCCESSES & HIGHLIGHTS
B-BEEE LEVEL IMPROVEMENT
Partnered with PwC on the improvement of clients B-BBEE levels . Clients experienced improved levels from being non-compliant to being compliant.
ESD PROJECTS
“Nordex Energy South Africa is extremely satisfied with the ESD Consulting services delivered to date and wish to confirm that the team is very competent, professional and reliable”
MARKET ACCESS & TENDER SUPPORT
The Business Associate linked us with Old Mutual Finance (our biggest client) and ensured that we are service providers to Transnet, PetroSA, etc. (Thembili Staffing Solutions)
OUR EXPERTISE
Our teams are diverse, vocational experts and entrepreneurs with more than 100 years of collective experience in the public and private sectors.
Our teams reflect the demographics of South Africa and are very energetic, enthusiastic and passionate about economic redress in our country. We possess a strong network partnership which is ready to be called upon to implement both small and complex projects.
JOSEPH SOLOMON RUITERS
A highly experienced Senior Executive who combines strategic/tactical business & financial expertise with strong qualifications in business development, operations and P&L management. A record of reversing financial declines and capturing significant cost reductions through process redesign and performance enhancement. He has demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in a variety of highly competitive industries, cutting-edge markets, and fast-paced environments. Proven ability to successfully analyze an organization’s critical business requirements, identify deficiencies and potential opportunities, and develop innovative and cost-effective solutions for enhancing competitiveness, increasing revenues, and improving customer service offerings.
Master of Business Administration · Stellenbosch University
Bachelor of Commerce · Accounting, Auditing & Taxation · University of Western Cape
ALDEN KLAASEN
An admitted legal practitioner of the High Court of South Africa (Attorney) having completed his articles of clerkship with a reputable firm specialising in the areas of litigation, property and commercial law. Has previously served as the Chief Legal Officer at one of our country’s leading insurers incorporating this experience as he shapes the businesses of the future. Is an authorised representative in terms of the FAIS Act. Has an astute legal mind with a keen appetite for business development. Has developed and maintained key training programmes empowering business owners to understand issues of compliance, governance and how the law impacts their internal and external relations. Demonstrates the ability to innovate and employ lateral thinking to solve problems and improve existing systems.
Bachelor of Laws · Public, Private & Mercantile Law · Stellenbosch University
CHARMAINE ABRAHAMS
A highly efficient Office Administrator who takes care of all clients (new and existing). Been part of the team for the last 10 years and understand all the challenges black and small businesses endure. Provide linkages for our client to business services offered by our company.
RALPH DONOVAN KLAASEN
A young and highly efficient business consultant with a wide range of expertise and experience. Supported many small businesses with growing their business and aligning their business to be transact-ready for corporate opportunities. Has the ability to analyze small business ideas, road-mapping it to access market opportunities in several business environments. He has a vast knowledge base of business start-ups and understands exactly what it takes for a business to be successful. He has the ability to effectively and efficiently develop business documentation allowing businesses to be trans-act ready. The aforementioned documentation and information include business planning, financial modelling (costing & pricing), market research, feasibility assessments, business profiles, etc. He has also facilitated workshops such as financial management, financial systems (one-on-one), accessing government opportunities (one-on-one), basic business start-up skills, how to tender and many more.
Bachelor of Commerce: Accounting, Auditing & Taxation · University of Western Cape
MUCAN RUITERS
A highly efficient business development consultant with hands on experience in marketing, creating of business linkages for small businesses, completing tender documents for clients. Has developed as a sharp and shrewd entrepreneur / business linkage consultant. Through his involvement with the Dimension Data Incubator Programme and Empretec he has learned some valuable entrepreneurship skills. Supported many small businesses with growing their business and align their business to be transact-ready for corporate business. He was a member of the team during the City of Cape Town’s pilot project re the implementation of due diligence audits.
OUR PARTNERS
“As your company grows so should your partnering suppliers. Companies cannot afford to allow their suppliers are not growing with them.”
PHR SOLUTIONS
Our partner has taken over the design and management of our website. Through this partnership, our projects such as the Matzikama Business Development Centre will have their own websites including the latest in graphic content.
BOSS ACCOUNTANTS
Through our partnership with MTM we offer clients business solutions for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Google. These solutions cater to the evolving market place and keep businesses including ours relevant.
MELTEA MEDIA
Our partner has taken over the design and management of our website. Through this partnership, our projects such as the Matzikama Business Development Centre will have their own websites including the latest in graphic content.
WEBSTERBIZ
We have partnered with Websterbiz as specialists in the field of B-BBEE consulting, training and strategy as we provide these services to role players in both the public and private sectors.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
We are extremely satisfied with the ESD services delivered.
~ Country Manager, VESTAS
The Business Associate has become mentors & supplier to many of the entrepreneurs post training (a value add of their services that makes them a great asset in our programme).
~ Charlene Duncan, UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE
CONTACT US
We love to listen and are eagerly awaiting your call. Get in touch!
EMAIL US
info@thebusinessassociate.co.za
VISIT US
Office 1F, Brackenfell Business Chambers, Arauna, Brackenfell, 7560
CALL US
083 294 1293
FOLLOW US
@BusinessAssociate.co.za
ABOUT THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATE
The Business Associate is an Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) organization established in 2006.
Our aim is to facilitate both demand-side and supplyside interventions to create a more INTEGRATED & INCLUSIVE South African economy.
