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more success For busiNessFit iN loNdoN!

usinessFit executives, David BusinessFit team and has already model and his reference to it in a David White.
White and Charles Henzi, had follow up discussions with parliamentary address was made. businessFit is a
Bmade their third trip (in Miller. Upon being presented with a sharon constanςon formally constituted
less than a year) to London in Magic Moments Trust item ( a CEO Valufin (Forex service black female owned
August 2018. They have come Kathi scott fabric painted artwork produced provider) and Genius Methods
back enthusing about the business Executive director (UK) Nelson by members of a disadvantaged, in the UK. Constanςon is also enterprise comprising
opportunities that have been Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF). rural community in KwaZulu- the chair of the South African a team of experienced
uncovered with the help of their Natal), Tambo immediately Chamber of Commerce UK. business owners. they
new United Kingdom (UK) Miller masterminded the proposed that, as part of a She was most impressed with have grouped together
partner, Mike Miller. A seasoned Miracles for Kids campaign that Freedom Day event planned for 27 the BusinessFit project and its to pool their respective
corporate business leader and raised R3 million during his April 2019 at South Africa House, forward thinking plans and skills and knowledge,
entrepreneur in both South Africa corporate career twenty years London, that a group of the pledged the support of the with the common
and the UK, Miller has undertaken ago in South Africa and since he artists be invited to demonstrate South African Chamber in objective of helping
to be the BusinessFit UK partner. arrived in the UK to set up The realising the project’s aims. support the growth and
South African Shop franchise in their skills to and collaborate
The carefully selected contacts the UK in 1999, he has worked with young UK artists. In the She enthusiastically approved development of small
were seen in the following order with Scott on initiatives to raise meantime she undertook to create of BusinessFit’s desire to be and medium businesses.
from 21st to 24th August. funds for the NMCF in the UK. a display of the Magic Moments appointed to the Chamber’s the team has done this
Trust products in the High EXCO team in South Africa, because they know that
rob cannavo richard swart Commission. Tambo said that which was agreed in principle. south africa’s economic
South African CEO of Codex Director of the South African this was the best meeting that she anthony Platt future depends upon
Capital and an active member of Chamber of Commerce in London, had had since arriving in London a vibrant and ever-
the SA Chamber of Commerce UK based in Yorkshire, has pledged to take up her new role four Previously CFO of an AE&CI growing small and
EXCO and business ambassador. his support for the BusinessFit months ago. subsidiary in South Africa, medium business sector.
Previously with the SADTI in initiative. On the back of that Miller he is now CEO of Thames
London, he worked with Miller on wrote to British Prime Minister Bridge in Maidenhead who are
the original formation of the South her excellency tembi tambo, Theresa May whom he’d met on accountants to the Maidenhead recent visit to South Africa and
African Chamber in London. South African High several occasions as president Chamber of Commerce and your successful meetings with
Cannavo was very enthusiastic at Commissioner to Her Majesty of the Maidenhead Chamber to Miller’s company, SAJE President Ramaphosa and HE
the prospect of working as part of Queen Elizabeth’s government. of Chamber of Commerce. He international Ltd. The meeting Tembi Tambo, South African
the UK BusinessFit team and is outlined the BusinessFit initiative was followed up by Miller a few High Commissioner to Her
having follow up discussions with Tambo was briefed on and demonstrated how it could days later to answer any queries Majesty’s government, I felt it
Miller to plan the way forward. BusinessFit objectives, foster new trading opportunities that Platt had and he too pledged opportune to write to you to
methodology, achievements and his support for the project. outline the work that the South
rob clark aspirations. This information between the two countries. African Chamber UK and its
Treasurer of the South African was received enthusiastically, david butler ross wilson associates, DRG, BusinessFit
with an undertaking to make
Chamber of Commerce UK mention to President Ramaphosa Previously CEO of the Chairman of Wilson Partners and the Magic Moments Trust
and CEO of Inyati Consulting whom she was meeting during South African Chamber and providing accounting, tax in South Africa are doing
specialising in commercial, the course of the UK Prime now involved in educating and advisory Services. Ross for sustainable entrepreneur
financial and operational Minister’s visit to South Africa. disadvantaged black children is a fellow of the Institute of development and job creation.
management. He too was very Mention of BusinessFit letter in London. The meeting was Directors (IOD) and a past chair David White and Charles
enthusiastic at the prospect to President Ramaphosa on the via Skype. Butler, who is also of the IOD in Berkshire. Wilson Henzi, senior executives from
of working as part of the UK BusinessFit employment creation involved in advising mining is now an IOD ambassador. He Business Fit and DRG spent last
companies in South Africa on impressed us with a philosophy week in the UK and I arranged
security and governance issues, of providing services ‘beyond several meetings with leading
pledged his support for the the profession’, i.e. helping entrepreneurs in the South
BusinessFit project. clients achieve sustainability African workspace here which
and growth! As such, he has were very successful. We are
john battersby formed close partnerships working with BusinessFit, DRG
Currently a director of the with his client base. Wilson and The Magic Moments Trust
South African Chamber of represents a useful contact for here in the UK to help South
Commerce in London, Battersby enterprises in the best-practice African companies to enter the
is a former editor of the Sunday service provision sector. UK market if they have products
Independent in South Africa and Our interactions, from that will be sustainable in the UK
foreign correspondent for the marketplace while at the same
New York Times and Christian a Chamber of Commerce time helping UK companies to
Science Monitor when he was perspective, revealed the enter the South African market
working in Johannesburg. He opportunity for BusinessFit with equally sustainable products
was the UK Country Manager UK, in close association with and services.”
for Brand South Africa from the South African Chamber,
2004 to 2015. He was heavily to play a facilitation role in A response to the letter has
involved in the Nelson Mandela supporting South African already been received from
Centenary exhibition in London businesses wishing to enter Theresa May’s constituency PA
and is a global peace ambassador the UK market and UK-based and the Prime Minister’s office.
for the Tutu Foundation business establishing themselves There is no doubt that the
UK. Battersby was extremely in South Africa. We explored whirlwind London visit was a
interested in the BusinessFit the possibility of providing huge success in driving the aims
project and pledged his support. opportunities for BusinessFit
Battersby has authored an beneficiaries to spend time with of DRG, BusinessFit and the
Magic Moments Trust in the
article in The Daily Maverick selected UK businesses for best-
on Theresa May’s recent visit to practice mentoring. UK forward. We look forward to
South Africa which reinforced Mike Miller in his letter to working with businesses in both
the notion of imminent, Theresa May said “Given your countries to fulfil the aim of job
post- Brexit, expanded trade creation in South Africa. 
opportunities.
“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
David White, Charles Henzi, HE Tembi Tambo (with Magic Moments piece) BusinessFit project,” said
and Mike Miller … in South Africa House.

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