Page 24 - Business Sense

LAUNCHING A BUSINESS IN THE UK AND SA?

ike Miller has worked became SAJE International Ltd now a force to be reckoned with in
and lived in both South t/a Sapro. We opened The South the South African diaspora in the
MAfrica and England for African Shop in Maidenhead UK and beyond.
more than five decades. Mike is in August 1999 and then
one of the founders of the South successfully expanded online YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR
OF A NEW CHAMBER
African Chamber of Commerce as southafricanshop.co.uk. In
(SACC) in the UK and has just 2011 we sold the stores to Jumbo INITIATIVE CALLED THE
taken on the role of Director Importers who own several more SACC BUSINESS HUB. WHAT
IS THAT DESIGNED TO DO?
of the SACC’s Business Hub stores around London.
with a team of consultants to Miller: In board discussions
assist members in successfully WHEN DID YOU GET we agreed that we needed the
INVOLVED WITH THE
launching their businesses into SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMBER Chamber to provide more services
the SA or UK markets. We caught OF COMMERCE IN THE UK? for the members and the idea of
up with Mike to discuss the the Business Hub was born. In
new BusinessFit International Miller: As owner of The South November 2017 I was contacted
initiative which offers an African Shop I was invited by an old school friend of mine
opportunity for successful South to become a member of the from Durban, Charles Henzi,
African businesses to launch into Maidenhead & Windsor Chamber who wanted to introduce me to
the UK market or to UK based of Commerce and to sit on their his business partners from DRG
businesses wanting to enter the executive committee. In 2004 a Outsourcing and BusinessFit.
South African market. group of South Africans in the They visited London and that
Thames Valley were looking to started a friendship and business
YOUR OFFICE IS ON THE launch a South African Business relationship with David White Mike Miller, Director, SACC’s Business Hub
FIRST FLOOR OF SAPRO Club similar to the very London and his wife Daisy, Akhona SURELY BRITISH
HOUSE ABOVE THE SOUTH centric SA Business Club. I did Mahlati, Charles himself and the - the stage one assessment is COMPANIES ENTERING
AFRICAN SHOP. WHY IS some research and found that provided free. Stage two involves SOUTH AFRICA WILL TAKE
THAT AND HOW DID YOU there wasn’t a South African rest of the DRG and BusinessFit a discussion between the client TIME TO NEGOTIATE
team in South Africa. This
END UP HERE? Chamber of Commerce in led to registering BusinessFit and the assigned consultant about THE REGULATORY
all aspects of the client business.
Miller: I was keen on owning the UK so suggested that we International Ltd (BFI) in the UK BAQ stage three involves more FRAMEWORK IN SA,
my own business using the skills launch a Chamber instead of a to represent BusinessFit and DRG advanced delving into the more PARTICULARLY IN
that I had learnt in the corporate business club. We launched the interests in England with the BFI significant parts of their business. RELATION TO BBBEE?
world to train and help people. new Chamber at the SA High initiative being the first service Stage four involves the consultant
In 1997 I was approached by Commission on Trafalgar Square offered by the new SACC Business team reviewing the data obtained, Miller: We have a ready-
retailers in the UK who wanted to in February 2009 with the High Hub. We are now able to offer help researching the best way forward, made solution for that too.
import South African consumer Commissioner agreeing to be the to UK businesses wanting to enter and finalising the recommended One of our sister companies,
goods. They gave me a combined first Honorary President. Two the South African market and plan to ensure success. Stage five DRG Outsourcing, provide
order for a wide range of South years later the SA Business Club South African businesses wanting is where the consultant team will a PEO service that enables
African consumer products disbanded and merged with the to enter the UK market. present the findings to the client businesses to concentrate on
and on 30 May 1997 we packed SACC. The Chamber has grown and agree on the way forward. their business rather than the
our first container at Makro in steadily since then and now THAT SOUNDS VERY regulatory framework. A PEO
Woodmead. I then set up South boasts Anglo American, Investec, INTERESTING, SO HOW ONCE YOU’VE MADE THE or Professional Employers
African Products International Standard Bank, Nedbank, Servest WILL IT WORK? RECOMMENDATIONS TO Organisation provides a complete
(Pty) Ltd in South Africa and and Sasol amongst its Platinum Miller: BFI have developed a THE CLIENT IS THAT THE Human Resources or HR service
registered a similar company members with representatives five stage Business Assessment END OF THE PROCESS? to the client, employing the people
in England which subsequently from PwC and Deloitte too. It is Questionnaire (BAQ) to assess the Miller: No. The needed on the client’s behalf,
entrance criteria. The first stage recommendations will include a handling payroll, tax, national
requires the applicant to provide list of action points in the target insurance, employee benefits,
information about their existing market needed to ensure the pensions, training and assessment
business and why they think that success of the project. BFI will – in fact all of the HR functions
it will successfully transfer to the continue to support the client that a major company would have
target market. During my retail by working alongside them, in house. DRG Outsourcing are
South African Shop days I was introducing them to the key BBBEE accredited at level 4 and
constantly being approached by contacts, and helping with the above which means that the client
people who thought that their presentation until contracts are company can take immediate
South African product would be signed – and beyond, if required advantage of this status.
successful in the UK and wanted by our client.
my help. Simple questioning in IT ALL LOOKS VERY
most cases showed that they had WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PROMISING. THE QUESTION
limited success in South Africa “KEY CONTACTS”? IS, WHAT IS NEEDED TO
and had little or no chance in Miller: The relevant contacts MAKE SURE THAT THE
the UK. Every so often though a depend upon the market PROJECT SUCCEEDS?
real gem emerged that we were concerned. For example, one Miller: Can we guarantee
able to support and help to make of our clients is involved in success? No. At the same
successful but sadly many more agriculture producing a wide time we have no doubt that if
just didn’t pass the test. The first range of high quality crops prospective clients accept our
stage of the BAQ is designed produced by farmers in SA that recommendations and heed our
to find those gems by potential potentially have a big market advice, combined with their own
clients completing an online in the UK. We have introduced
questionnaire about their business. the client to a multinational passion for their business, success
is sure to follow.
restaurant chain who are
ONCE YOU’VE FOUND THE interested in purchasing a variety
GEMS AS YOU CALL THEM of their agricultural products. HOW DO INTERESTED
WHAT HAPPENS THEN? BUSINESSES ACCESS THE
From a retail perspective there is PROGRAMME?
Miller: We have a team a clear path to market in the UK
of experienced professional that we are advising them on. The Miller: In South Africa email
consultants in both the UK and same is true for British products lindiwe@businessfit.co.za
SA who will assess the BAQ entering South Africa. We have In the UK via the Chamber via
stage one responses and if they the contacts and experience to e-mail mike.miller@sapro.co.uk
find a gem will sign them up ensure that they make a successful
for BAQ stage two. This is the cost effective entry into the SA or visit the website at
point at which a charge is levied market. southafricanchamber.co.uk n

16