Eastcape Training Centre CEO Neil Harilal says he believes their success is in the number of qualified learners that can be placed in the industry and contribute to the overall economy of the Eastern Cape and SA.
Please share some background on how the business was started
Established in 1976, this dynamic landmark training institution with its Struandale campus boasts a proud history. As an acknowledged leader in skills development, ETC has proved to be a highly successful private non-profit training institution that provides an essential service to commerce, industry, government, and local communities.
What is your core service?
ETC offers a unique mix of skills programmes, learnerships, apprenticeships and short courses tailor-made to the needs of the client. Over the years, the company has persevered with its mission to develop and enrich individuals and organisations through relevant and effective skills training.
What makes your business unique?
ETC is the only one of its kind in the country providing courses across five sectors; building and construction; mechanical engineering; electrical engineering and driver training.
If someone wanted to copy your business model, how would they start?
Barriers to entry into private education are high so it requires vast financial resources, skilled technical manpower, updated and relevant training material and the requisite accreditations.
What are some of the biggest inhibitors your business faced before getting off the ground?
Finances, skilled manpower, infrastructure and accreditations.
Do you have any tips for budding entrepreneurs or new business owners?
The problem with many start-ups today is cash flow management. Many entrepreneurs have brilliant ideas but lack proper planning when it comes to cash flow management. Entrepreneurs should have an idea of what the possible expenses will be and the time when this will most likely be incurred.
A proper cash flow forecast for the year should be drawn up. Another tip for young entrepreneurs is to be customer-orientated. Ensure the product you are selling or service you are rendering is of the highest standard. Go beyond expectation for your customers or clients. The focus should be value creation.
What are some of your biggest challenges in day-to-day business operations and your particular industry?
Growing businesses face a range of challenges. As a business grows, different problems and opportunities demand different solutions — what worked a year ago might not now be the best approach.
Recognising and overcoming the common pitfalls associated with growth is essential if our business is to continue to grow and thrive. Crucially, we need to ensure that the steps we take today do not themselves create additional problems for the future. Effective leadership will help us make the most of the opportunities, creating sustainable growth for the future.
What is the best advice anyone gave you on success?
No road to success has ever been easy.
“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again, before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.” — Nelson Mandela
How do you measure or define success in your business?
By the number of qualified learners that can be placed in industry and contribute to the overall economy of the Eastern Cape and SA.
What are some of the best practices that have made your business successful?
Businesses are living organisms that need attention. A business can ebb and flow for a variety of reasons, like changing management, a tumultuous business environment or new competitors.
To keep our business healthy, we have to constantly analyse our business’s internal and external structure and ensure it is growing in the right direction. This analysis involves practical strategies (like updating technology) and abstract strategies, like reaffirming our mission statement with our team.
What kind of advertising do you do?
Facebook, email marketing, newspaper, radio, pamphlet distribution and business breakfasts.
What is your company’s vision?
The ETC vision is to be the leading service provider of skills training in SA.
What is your target market?
ETC trains anyone and everyone, from industry to private learners to unemployed learners. When it comes to transferring skills and knowledge, ETC believes that every day is a learning day, and we believe in empowering through knowledge and growth.
What have some of your highlights been in running your business?
The Mossgas project.
In 2009 we won three awards: Leadership; top facilitator of the year; and leading service provider.
This was a hat-tick for ETC.
How important is social media and an online presence for your business?
Social media is imperative for our business because it offers us a way to reach, nurture, engage and connect one-on-one with our target audience. It also allows us to turn our audience members into customers.
How many people do you employ?
50
Do you have any plans for expanding the business, and how would you go about this?
Sometimes, acquiring other businesses is a very quick way to grow our own business. If we can find competitors or businesses in other industries that would complement our own, we could use them as platforms to scale fast. We will look within our industry and even outside of it to find potential or potential opportunities. We would like to expand our footprint nationally and into Africa further by possibly opening branches of the business.
How did you acquire funding for the business?
We currently fund our business from our revenue.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your business journey so far?
Prepare for all, sound planning is essential.
What have been the greatest challenges and advantages of running your business in a city like Gqeberha?
A large percentage of our learners come from rural areas and the cost of accommodation makes training unaffordable.
What do you say are the three key traits of a successful entrepreneur?
Determination; resilience; and passion and work ethic.
What do you say are the key traits of a successful employer?
Honest and open communication where employees know what is going on in the business, having dedicated and loyal team builders and leaders, and making employees feel valued, thereby helping the employer to succeed.
What do you wish people knew about your industry?
We can train anyone in the technical field. Our doors are open to anyone and everyone with the will and passion to learn and to grow. ETC is a world-class training centre on the doorstep of PE.
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