5 lessons on building a brand at scale | SA's franchise growth outpaces structure

South Africa’s informal sector needs unified digital tools

Entrepreneurship Weekly Tue 5 May 2026 ALL INDUSTRIES  | COMPANIES  | JOBS  | EVENTS  | SUBMIT NEWS  | ADVERTISE  | FOLLOW  | MY ACCOUNT  | SUBSCRIBE  |  UNSUBSCRIBE 5 lessons on building a brand at scale from ButtaNutt  read SA's franchise growth outpaces structure, risks brand reputation LARRY HODES South Africa has one of the highest rates of franchise sector participation of any economy. It is also quietly running out of the people who make the networks actually work... read Bridging the gap: South Africa’s informal sector needs unified digital tools ANDREW BOURNE The township entrepreneur running a spaza shop, the informal caterer operating from a Khayelitsha garage, the micro-manufacturer working in a Tembisa backyard, many of these business owners already have smartphones and mobile data available. What they lack is a suite of digital tools that actually fits their reality... read FNB highlights role of franchisors in SA’s franchise growth First National Bank has highlighted the role of franchisors in driving South Africa’s franchise sector... read The cash flow crisis quietly killing South African small businesses, and the fintech solving it ISSUED BY BRIDGEMENT South Africa's SMEs are caught in a cash flow crisis, with R12.4bn in government invoices left unpaid beyond 30 days and private sector payment cycles stretching up to 150 days, often threatening business survival... Read Entrepreneurship 35 South African women-led manufacturing businesses empowered Amazon launches Sustainable Sellers Incubator for South African women entrepreneurs... Read Awards 702 MTN Small Business Awards winner announcement ISSUED BY PRIMEDIA BROADCASTING The 2026 edition of the prestigious 702 MTN Small Business Awards – Let’s Talk Shop culminated in an elegant gala event held on 23 April at Primedia Place in Sandton... Read Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Sea Monster expands global impact in entrepreneurship education with King’s Trust International ISSUED BY EDGE GROWTH Launched in 2011, Sea Monster uses gaming as an instrument for change. Over the past 15 years, with more than R16m investment from growth funding partner Edge Growth across multiple funds, they have made serious waves, and their achievements stand as a source of immense pride. Read Workers' Day: How SMEs can retain skilled staff when corporates can pay more ISSUED BY BUSINESS PARTNERS LIMITED As South Africa marks Workers’ Day on 1 May, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are facing increasing pressure to retain scarce skilled talent in the face of steep corporate salary competition... Read Investing in employees - a critical step for SME growth JEREMY LANG, ISSUED BY BUSINESS PARTNERS LIMITED In honour of the fight for workers’ rights, the focus around Workers' Day often falls on elements such as wages and working conditions... Read Workers’ Month reminder for SMEs: Growth plans must include people, not just products ISSUED BY LULA As South Africa marks Workers’ Month, Lula is encouraging business owners to think differently about growth: not only in terms of stock, systems or equipment, but also in terms of the people needed to deliver on that growth... Read Business Massive fuel hike for May: Petrol up R3.27, diesel up R6.19 The increase comes alongside government efforts to cushion the blow for consumers through the extension of the R3 decrease in the general fuel levy for petrol... Read Featured Press Office of the day More   |   Join MyDough MyDough incubates startups & accelerates SMEs, using a combination of growth programmes designed to give entrepreneurs the skills and networks to succeed. Contact  |  News  |  VISIT PRESS OFFICE  |  @mydough_sa  |  Linkedin  |  Facebook FOLLOW US List company List CV List new business List portfolio showcase List profile Submit event Submit gallery Submit job ad Submit new appointment Submit news Submit noticeboard Submit op-ed contribution Home My job ads My events My company My CV Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email sales and read more about our advertising rates 3rd Floor, 62 Roeland St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. Tel +27 (0)21 404 1460 © 2026 bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe. Manage subscription. Subscribe. Change email.

Make Your Mark Before the Dashboard Closes #ETFSA

NOMINATE NOW

Dear L&D Enthusiasts,   The official nomination deadline may have passed but truly exceptional work deserves its moment.   To ensure no outstanding initiative is left behind, we’ve opened a short final extension window for: - Last minute nominations - Pending payment closures - Final submission completions   DASHBOARD CLOSING ON: May 15, 2026   The ET Future Skills Awards is not just about outcomes. It’s about: - The strength of your thinking - The originality of your approach - The clarity of your execution - The impact of your learning vision   If your work is driving transformation, shaping future-ready talent, or redefining learning excellence, this is your final moment to showcase it on one of the industry’s most respected platforms.   Processing Fee: • Organisational Category: INR 45,000 plus taxes (Late Fee Applicable) • Individual Category: INR 30,000 plus taxes (Late Fee Applicable)   {NOMINATE YOUR ORGANIZATION}   This extension window will close on May 15, 2026, after which submissions will officially conclude.   We look forward to celebrating your best work.   Warm regards, ET Future Skills Awards Team

NOMINATE NOW

Teacher Connect Newsletter May 2026 – Global webinars for teachers and educators, British Council scholarship, self-access course, and much more!

Is this email displaying properly? If not, read it in your browser

Teacher Connect

In this edition focusing on Understanding my context, register for the global webinars, apply for the British Council scholarship, and explore the online course. Listen to the podcast and find out more about the word of the month. Button Narrative self-observation: A practical toolkit for teacher educators Join us on 21 May for a webinar facilitated by Jason Anderson to explore narrative self-observation (NSO) as an alternative approach to lesson observation. Drawing on research-informed knowledge about teachers’ work over the last two decades, this webinar will share fresh insights into the significance of school organisation in retaining teachers. Learn how many educators stay committed and passionate about their work despite the challenges.   Register British Council Scholarship for English Language Teachers in India Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your teaching career with world-class training and international experience! The British Council is offering three fully funded scholarships for the MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (Online) programme at the University of Portsmouth for the 2026–27 academic year. Designed for teachers unable to pursue long-term study in the UK, this programme combines world-class online learning with a fully funded two-week residential visit to the UK. Apply MOOC: Communication skills This free, three-module, self-access online course helps you enhance your students' communication skills with engaging, practical classroom activities that build a clear understanding of effective dialogue. Define what dialogue means, and why it is important. Examine a range of techniques to develop their dialogue building-skills. Additionally, you will find activities that promote active listening, assertiveness, and conflict management. Enrol in the course now ! Register Webinars: Adapting ELT resources Join us on 15 May for three practical webinars about adapting resources and teaching approaches to meet your students' needs and interests. Explore how to adapt teaching resources using a simple, three-step framework: Connect, Adapt, Empower, so that they are relevant and engaging for your students. Learn how to provide scaffolding for learners who need more support, and how meaningful challenge can be added for those who are ready. Discover how three teachers from around the world tailor lesson materials to their teaching context. Register Podcast: Educational planning Listen to this engaging episode looking at the importance of planning in education systems. Our guests, Dr Rukmini Banerji (CEO, Pratham Education Foundation) and Dr Martin Wedell (University of Leeds) draw on their extensive experience to discuss planning cycles, frameworks, and lessons from research in this critical area. It highlights key initiatives such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (2015), UNESCO’s Education Policy Planning Process: An Applied Framework (1995), and the UK’s DFID Education Policy 2018: Get Children Learning. Listen Word of the month: Communities of Practice A Community of Practice (CoP) by Education theorists Etienne Wenger and Jean Lave, is defined as a group of individuals who share a common interest and improve their skills through regular interaction. This webinar describes how Communities of Practice were set up in the British Council teaching centres in Spain and cover information about facilitator training, choice of topics, etc. It also examines the shift from face-to-face to online CoPs and explores the challenges and advantages in creating effective CoPs. Watch A Teach English in India newsletter © British Council The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). If you wish to opt out of future newsletters, please unsubscribe here. Update your marketing preferences