From mentorship to opportunity, UWC alumni and partners can help shape the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Prof M Roberts-Lombard facilitating a Sales and Marketing Workshop for SMMEs at the Small Business Clinic. Image: Supplied

Behind every promising business is often someone willing to share knowledge, open a door, make an introduction or simply say, “I believe in you.” At the University of the Western Cape (UWC), the Small Business Clinic (SBC) is creating those opportunities by connecting students and small business owners with practical expertise, mentorship and support.

Housed within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS), the SBC was established to bridge the gap between academic theory and the realities of entrepreneurship. It allows students to work with real businesses while developing the confidence, skills and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in a changing world of work.

For Professor Michelle Esau, Dean of EMS, this practical engagement is central to the clinic’s purpose.

“The kinds of things that would happen in this physical space are things that would revolve around support to both our students and small business owners,” she says. 

She emphasises the importance of “instilling a mindset of entrepreneurship within the minds and the hearts of our students” through meaningful engagement with entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the small-business sector.

That engagement is becoming increasingly meaningful through the SBC’s mentorship offering. The Links Mentorship Programme, for example, connects UWC students with experienced professionals in the United States, providing guidance, business support and exposure to new perspectives across borders. Workshops led by EMS academics also provide students and SMMEs with practical guidance in areas such as taxation, financial literacy and planning, sales, marketing, operations, ICT and labour relations.

Advancing the conversation on entrepreneurship

The Faculty’s commitment to supporting small-business development also extends beyond practical programmes into research and knowledge sharing. In 2025, EMS launched its first interdisciplinary book, Entrepreneurship Education: A South African Perspective on Supporting Small Business Development, co-edited by Professors Michelle Esau and Walter Geach.

Prof A Bayat facilitating an Operations Workshop for SMMEs at the Small Business Clinic. Image: Supplied

The publication offers practical insights and solutions for academics, policymakers and entrepreneurs, contributing to the broader conversation around strengthening entrepreneurship and small-business development in South Africa.

But mentorship does not have to come from across the ocean. It can come from the UWC community itself.

Our alumni are working across virtually every sector, building businesses, leading organisations and accumulating years of experience that could make a meaningful difference to an aspiring entrepreneur. By becoming a mentor, alumni can give back in one of the most direct ways possible: by sharing what they have learned and helping a student navigate the challenges of turning an idea into a viable enterprise.

Faculty Manager Wasiem Rinquest has long emphasised the value of these relationships.

“At UWC, we believe that partnerships are not just strategic — they are deeply human,” he says. “They are built on shared purpose, mutual respect, and a commitment to shaping a better future.”

For alumni and donors, the SBC therefore offers more than an opportunity to support a university programme. It is an opportunity to invest in people, ideas and economic participation. Financial support can help strengthen the clinic’s programmes and expand opportunities for students and small business owners. At the same time, mentorship can provide something equally powerful: access to experience, networks and encouragement.

The clinic already demonstrates what is possible when academic learning and community engagement come together. Its Digital Logistics Services & Entrepreneurship Project connects UWC students with international peers to develop solutions for real business challenges, while the US–SA Virtual Incubator helps students design social-impact ventures and develop entrepreneurial skills.

The invitation is now extended to the UWC family.

Whether you can offer your time, professional expertise, industry connections or financial support, your contribution can help a young entrepreneur move from an idea to action. Together, alumni, donors, industry partners and the University can help build businesses, create opportunities and strengthen South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Interested in becoming a mentor? 

Should you be interested in supporting the SBC as a mentor, fill out the SMME Mentor Sign Up Form. 

Want to stay connected?

Join the SBC database to receive the latest updates on news, workshops, events and other opportunities from the Small Business Clinic. 

For more information, visit the Small Business Clinic Overview to learn more about the clinic, its programmes and how you can support its work.

Visit us

UWC Innovation Hub
405 Voortrekker Road
Oostersee, Parow

Telephone: 021 959 1800
Email: smallbusinessclinic@uwc.ac.za