Riversands Incubation Hub

ABOUT US

The world’s most ambitious small business incubator

We have the ambition to be the single largest developer of black-owned small businesses in South Africa.

Riversands Incubation Hub is a large-scale business incubator established in 2015 through a partnership between Century Property Developments and The Jobs Fund.

The Hub is home to more than 150 small businesses with many more entrepreneurs supported through business development and support services offered.

The Hub is located at the centre of the Riversands Commercial Park. The primary intention of the incubator is to create a strong, enabling ecosystem which fosters the development of high-potential enterprises.

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS

We work with South African companies to define and enhance their enterprise and supplier development programme. The new BBBEE codes attribute 40% of the total scorecard to Enterprise Development; no South African company can ignore this important new legislation.

After working with youth in Diepsloot for a number of years through the Diepsloot Youth Programme, Mark Corbett, CEO of Century Property Developments recognised that the young didn’t have much hope of employment on leaving school. Having bought the Riversands farm located about 3kms from Diepsloot, Corbett decided to create an incubation hub for small businesses within a larger commercial park. This development has the potential to transform the socio-economic environment of the surrounding area.

SERVICES

CONFERENCING

We offer modern, airy spaces suitable for events and conferences. Whether it’s a conference for more than 400 people, or a series of breakaway events for small gatherings – we offer venues for either requirement. Every Rand spent on hiring the facility is directly channelled towards small business development. That’s why we call it ‘conferencing with conscience’. Download our conference brochure and get in touch with our events coordinator Fundi Kumalo on fundik@riversandsihub.co.za to discuss your unique conference requirements.

SPACES AVAILABLE

We can accommodate the following event and conferencing requirements:

• Awards ceremonies
• Breakfast presentations
• Cocktail events
• Community meetings
• Concerts
• Conferences
• Exhibitions
• Graduations
• Product launches
• Industrial training
• IT training
• Religious meetings
• Product launches
• Training
• Family days

FEATURES

• Modern, crisp spaces
• Venues are air-conditioned
• Venues include small boardrooms and medium and large conference rooms seating up to 480 delegates
• Free high-speed Wi-Fi
• Extensive secure free parking
• 24/7 security
• Multiple break-away rooms
• A choice of menus to suit all tastes and budgets
• Audio visual equipment
• On-site IT support
• Back-up power generator

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

We offer the following on request, and at highly competitive pricing:

• PA system and on-site sound engineer
• Visual projector
• Video recording of your day’s proceedings

GREEN

Riversands Incubation Hub has installed solar panels and recycles waste in an effort to reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint.

CATERING

Our on-site restaurant, run by an SME operator, offers a wide selection of delicious and healthy meals. We offer five different catering options, ranging from budget to deluxe. We provide finger food and snacks for more informal dining. For smarter occasions, we prepare a customised three-course meal.

All conferencing options include a mid-morning and afternoon snack with teas and coffee as well as bottled water and cordials.

We cater for all special dietary requirements including Halaal, kosher, vegetarian and vegan.

LOCATION

The Hub is located on the northern edge of Johannesburg, approximately 40km from the inner city and 20km north of Sandton, close to the Fourways Midrand corridor. This is a stone’s throw away from the residential areas of Dainfern, Steyn City and Fourways.

Close enough to be convenient for delegates from the broader Johannesburg North area, whilst far enough to be a break away.

The Hub is within close proximity to numerous leading hotels and smaller independent guesthouses in the Fourways area.

The Hub is a 45 minute drive away from Lanseria Airport.

FACILITIES

Our built-to-purpose facilities create spaces for learning, conversations and collaboration. Businesses in our incubation programme benefit from a professional address and facilities – for an affordable cost and easier rental terms.

Learning Centre

The backbone of the Hub is the extensive learning centre offering the following facilities:

• Library for research
• Two 98-seat lecture halls
• A 480-seat auditorium
• Fully equipped skill-specific training workshops
• Meeting rooms
• Mentor rooms
• Fully connected and enabled hot desks
• Back-up marketing and printing facilities
• State of the art IT and telephony
• Business centre
• Restaurant
• An amphitheatre with a capacity of up to 4000

Parts of the Hub will be accessible to the public with a user-friendly atmosphere, allowing potential customers to interact with the small-business owners on-campus.

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

There are 150 mini-factories, retail, office spaces and horticultural and landscaping training space available for SME businesses and partner companies. These spaces provide an integrated manufacturing, training, commercial and retail environment in which SMEs have ample opportunity to trade.

• Factory space: from 50 m2 to 200 m2 with or without integrated mezzanine office space
• Office space for service-based enterprises
• Retail space for the sale of products and services to visiting public
• Retail and catering space
• Fully equipped training facilities:
• training rooms
• materials storage space
• artisan training workshops
• auditorium
• agricultural/horticultural display space
• Security, telephone lines, ADSL, electricity, water, refuse

PROGRAMMES

We’re looking for smart, resilient entrepreneurs with the ability to build strong, successful businesses. Apply for premises and other support services if you have what it takes, but would like to get there faster.

Our four pillars of support

Riversands offers entrepreneurs a potent mix of professional premises, visibility and access to markets, mentorship and training opportunities, while removing some of the administrative burden faced by small business owners.

Qualifying for support

To qualify for premises entrepreneurs need to meet the following criteria:

• Have a company with at least 51% black ownership
• Have a viable business with potential to grow
• Be active and full-time in the business
• Demonstrate entrepreneurial characteristics and ability to execute

To qualify for Growth & Learning entrepreneurs need to meet the following criteria:

• Be a member of the Riversands Entrepreneur Alliance

Markets and Back-office services are available to on-campus entrepreneurs with special offers extended to selected members of the Riversands Entrepreneur Alliance. [Riversands Entrepreneur Alliance was established to cater for business owners to take advantage of the entrepreneur support programmes offered at Riversands Incubation Hub. Once on the database, members of the Riversands Entrepreneur Alliance receive invitations to events and updates on what is available to help them grow their businesses.

Costs

Premises at Riversands Incubation Hub are available at a highly subsidised rate of R51 per square metre. The three other support pillars are available at affordable prices or free of charge thanks to corporate sponsorship.

PARTNERS

Riversands has the scale to have real impact in building small businesses, creating new jobs and alleviating poverty. We need the support from corporate South Africa, academic institutions and other interested organisations to bring our ambitious vision to life.

We take a flexible approach to partnership, offering a number of ways for organisations to participate.

We are always interested in speaking to people who share our passion for entrepreneurial development.

Riversands does not retain management fee or percentage of corporate sponsorship but covers its own operating costs through other sources. This means that 100% of funds sponsored go directly to small business development. Riversands is a registered not-for-profit company.

GET INVOLVED

SPONSOR

Riversands offers many sponsorship options for companies to sponsor small businesses or skills development. Your support could be as simple as enterprise development spend; either entrusted to us to allocate as needed, or as prescribed by your company. We manage the process and provides the necessary verification so that your company receives maximum BEE Scorecard points. For larger sponsorships, we can create customised enterprise and supplier development programmes that carry your company name.

BUY

From catering to car branding – we offer wide range of small businesses that your company could buy from. For larger procurement requirements, tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll help you source it from qualifying SMEs, with support to achieve quality and delivery.

MENTOR

The Hub is actively looking for senior business people and entrepreneurs to volunteer as industry mentors. We welcome applications from experienced and committed business people from all industries.

REFER

Know of a great small business that qualifies for incubation? Refer them to us.

SUPPORT

There are countless other ways to support small businesses. This could include providing specialist training, access to valuable business resources including equipment, transport, materials supply as well as access to loans and funding oppportunities.

HOST

Host your next conference, team break away or AGM at our conferencing. Every Rand spent on conference hire goes towards developing small businesses.

B-BBEE

No South African Business can afford to ignore the challenge, and opportunity, that the new BEE legislation presents. Riversands Incubation Hub has set itself the goal of being the partner of choice for businesses seeking to improve their BEE status.

Supplier choice

The campus is home to over 150 diverse black-owned and run businesses with an additional 300 business in the off-campus programme.

High quality and service

Talented business mentors and technical support personnel assist SMEs develop and offer the quality and service standards expected by leading companies.

Hands-on BEE support

Companies outsource their enterprise and supplier development process to us. We have a team that will help you to select fully qualified BBBEE partners to augment existing suppliers.

Risk-managed

Risk-managed Each Rand spent with us is tracked. A formal setting and continual monitoring minimises risk and ensures funds are allocated correctly

PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS

We provide an open, opportunity-rich environment set up to create maximum sustainable economic and social value for all stakeholders.

Hassle-free points for your BEE scorecard

We provide a seamless solution for enterprise and supplier development (ESD), skills development and socio-economic development (SED) spend. We manage the process on your behalf, and you receive maximum BEE Scorecard points for every Rand spent. Read more about our approach to BEE.

Making your BEE spend count

The Hub will ensure that your spend is not wasted, but goes towards developing strong small businesses. Each Rand spent on ESD, skills development or SED is tracked; a formal setting and continual monitoring minimises risk and ensures funds are allocated correctly. Economies of scale ensure that expenses are reduced and impact is maximised.

A better supplier base

Interested in procuring from a small black-owned business? Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll help you source it from qualifying SMEs, with support to achieve quality and delivery. This allows you to grow your supply chain and capacity, while reducing time spend on non-core activities.

Contribution to economic development

We all benefit from a prosperous and stable South Africa. You can contribute to alleviating poverty, reducing social ills and fostering a more inclusive economy through the development of hundreds of successful small businesses.

Positive brand association

You have the chance to position your company as a key contributor to this ground-breaking initiative amongst your internal and external stakeholders. We will work with you to tailor your own ESD programme that carries your company’s name and identity.