Page 16 - JCCI Business Focus 2.3

More suCCess for busInessfIt In london!

usinessFit executives, David UK BusinessFit team and model and his reference to it in a sharon Constanςon
White and Charles Henzi, has already had follow up parliamentary address was made. CEO Valufin (Forex service
Bmade their third trip (in discussions with Miller. Upon being presented with a provider) and Genius Methods businessfit is a
less than a year) to London in Magic Moments Trust item ( a in the UK. Constanςon is also formally constituted
August 2018. They have come Kathi scott fabric painted artwork produced by the chair of the South African black female owned
back enthusing about the business Executive director (UK) Nelson members of a disadvantaged, rural Chamber of Commerce UK. enterprise comprising
opportunities that have been Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF). community in KwaZulu-Natal), She was most impressed with a team of experienced
uncovered with the help of their the BusinessFit project and its business owners. they
Miller masterminded the
new United Kingdom (UK) Miracles for Kids campaign that Tambo immediately proposed forward thinking plans and have grouped together
that, as part of a Freedom Day
partner, Mike Miller. A seasoned raised R3 million during his event planned for 27 April 2019 at pledged the support of the
corporate business leader and corporate career twenty years South Africa House, London, that South African Chamber in to pool their respective
entrepreneur in both South Africa ago in South Africa and since he a group of the artists be invited realising the project’s aims. skills and knowledge,
and the UK, Miller has undertaken arrived in the UK to set up The to demonstrate their skills to and She enthusiastically approved with the common
to be the BusinessFit UK partner. of BusinessFit’s desire to be objective of helping
South African Shop franchise in collaborate with young UK artists.
The carefully selected contacts the UK in 1999, he has worked In the meantime she undertook appointed to the Chamber’s support the growth and
were seen in the following order with Scott on initiatives to raise to create a display of the Magic EXCO team in South Africa, development of small
from 21st to 24th August. funds for the NMCF in the UK. Moments Trust products in the which was agreed in principle. and medium businesses.
High Commission. Tambo said the team has done this
rob Cannavo richard swart that this was the best meeting Anthony Platt because they know that
South African CEO of Codex Director of the South African that she had had since arriving in Previously CFO of an AE&CI south Africa’s economic
Capital and an active member of Chamber of Commerce in London, London to take up her new role subsidiary in South Africa, future depends upon
the SA Chamber of Commerce UK based in Yorkshire, has pledged four months ago. he is now CEO of Thames a vibrant and ever-
EXCO and business ambassador. his support for the BusinessFit On the back of that Miller Bridge in Maidenhead who are growing small and
Previously with the SADTI in initiative. wrote to British Prime Minister accountants to the Maidenhead
London, he worked with Miller on Theresa May whom he’d met on Chamber of Commerce and medium business sector.
the original formation of the South her excellency tembi tambo, several occasions as president to Miller’s company, SAJE
African Chamber in London. South African High of the Maidenhead Chamber international Ltd. The meeting
Cannavo was very enthusiastic at Commissioner to Her Majesty of Chamber of Commerce. He was followed up by Miller a few Tembi Tambo, South African
the prospect of working as part of Queen Elizabeth’s government. outlined the BusinessFit initiative days later to answer any queries High Commissioner to Her
the UK BusinessFit team and is Tambo was briefed on and demonstrated how it could that Platt had and he too pledged Majesty’s government, I felt it
having follow up discussions with BusinessFit objectives, foster new trading opportunities his support for the project. opportune to write to you to
Miller to plan the way forward. methodology, achievements and between the two countries. ross wilson outline the work that the South

rob Clark aspirations. This information david butler Chairman of Wilson Partners African Chamber UK and its
associates, DRG, BusinessFit
was received enthusiastically,
Treasurer of the South African with an undertaking to make Previously CEO of the providing accounting, tax and and the Magic Moments Trust
Chamber of Commerce UK mention to President Ramaphosa South African Chamber and advisory Services. Ross is a fellow in South Africa are doing
and CEO of Inyati Consulting whom she was meeting during now involved in educating of the Institute of Directors for sustainable entrepreneur
specialising in commercial, the course of the UK Prime disadvantaged black children in (IOD) and a past chair of the development and job creation.
financial and operational Minister’s visit to South Africa. London. The meeting was via IOD in Berkshire. Wilson is David White and Charles
now an IOD ambassador. He
management. He too was very Mention of BusinessFit letter Skype. Butler, who is also involved Henzi, senior executives from
enthusiastic at the prospect to President Ramaphosa on the in advising mining companies impressed us with a philosophy Business Fit and DRG spent last
of providing services ‘beyond
of working as part of the BusinessFit employment creation in South Africa on security and the profession’, i.e. helping week in the UK and I arranged
governance issues, pledged his clients achieve sustainability and several meetings with leading
support for the BusinessFit project. growth! As such, he has formed entrepreneurs in the South
African workspace here which
close partnerships with his client
John battersby base. Wilson represents a useful were very successful. We are
Currently a director of the contact for enterprises in the best- working with BusinessFit, DRG
and The Magic Moments Trust
South African Chamber of practice service provision sector. here in the UK to help South
Commerce in London, Battersby Our interactions, from African companies to enter the
is a former editor of the Sunday a Chamber of Commerce UK market if they have products
Independent in South Africa and perspective, revealed the that will be sustainable in the UK
foreign correspondent for the opportunity for BusinessFit marketplace while at the same
New York Times and Christian UK, in close association with time helping UK companies to
Science Monitor when he was the South African Chamber, enter the South African market
working in Johannesburg. He to play a facilitation role in with equally sustainable products
was the UK Country Manager for supporting South African and services.”
Brand South Africa from 2004 to businesses wishing to enter
2015. He was heavily involved in the UK market and UK-based A response to the letter has
the Nelson Mandela Centenary business establishing themselves already been received from
exhibition in London and is a in South Africa. We explored Theresa May’s constituency PA
global peace ambassador for the the possibility of providing and the Prime Minister’s office.
Tutu Foundation UK. Battersby opportunities for BusinessFit There is no doubt that the
was extremely interested in beneficiaries to spend time with whirlwind London visit was
the BusinessFit project and selected UK businesses for best- a huge success in driving the
pledged his support. Battersby practice mentoring. aims of DRG, BusinessFit and
has authored an article in The the Magic Moments Trust in the
Daily Maverick on Theresa May’s Mike Miller in his letter to UK forward. We look forward to
recent visit to South Africa Theresa May said “Given your working with businesses in both
which reinforced the notion of recent visit to South Africa and countries to fulfil the aim of job
imminent, post- Brexit, expanded your successful meetings with creation in South Africa. 
trade opportunities. President Ramaphosa and HE

“That was one of the best
meetings that we had. Battersby’s
contacts in the UK and South
African governments will
be extremely useful to the
BusinessFit project,” said
David White, Charles Henzi, HE Tembi Tambo (with Magic Moments piece) David White.
and Mike Miller … in South Africa House.

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