Grit Hub hosts an enjoyable networking evening

GEORGE NEWS - The George Business Chamber presented another successful networking evening on Thursday 29 June, hosted by Garden Route Innovation and Tech (Grit) Hub in the York Street Boulevard shopping centre.

In his address to George's industry leaders, Marshall Grant, founder and CEO of Grit Hub, shared the registered non-profit's vision of providing workforce training, apprenticeships and mentorship to entrepreneurs, small businesses and start-ups in the Garden Route area.

He emigrated to South Africa from America with his family in 2016.

With over 20 years' experience and knowledge in the IT and e-commerce sector in both South Africa and America, he noted the sharp contrasts in the level of technological advancement between the two countries and he started the Grit Hub because he felt driven to provide a much-needed catalyst in innovation and technology in the Garden Route.

He emphasised the need to elevate South Africa's access to and engagement in the digital economy: "Our aim is to enable small businesses and entrepreneurs to compete successfully in the global market, tapping more fully into the potential of their online presence."

The event was well attended and was enjoyed by all. Lucky-draw prizes were sponsored by Wimpy, Debonairs, Grit Hub, Perfect Water, Just Colours and Suid-Kaap Biltong.

Janneke Nel says under the guidance of the Grit Hub, their business, Virtual Business Cards, has grown to the point where they can take on international work. "It started as a dream and has developed into something amazing. We did the Grit Hub's incubation programme and since then, we have tackled many interesting and exciting projects."

Upcoming events

n CCMA training session on day-to-day issues in the workplace on 19 July at Town Lodge. Starts at 08:00.
n George Business Chamber Corporate Cup Golf Day on 28 July at Fancourt: 4-ball alliance, two scores to count. Sponsorship packages are still available. The day will conclude with a dinner and prize-giving where endurance runner Erica Terblanche will be the speaker.
n Mandela Day Local Community Challenge with NQtac Cape Hotel School. Individuals and businesses are challenged to sponsor one or more buckets of soup and bread. One bucket of soup and bread can feed up to 40 people. Sponsors can then spend their 67 minutes on Mandela Day, 18 July, handing out the soup and bread. There will be 67 buckets that can feed 2 680 hungry people in total. One 10-litre bucket filled with freshly made soup will cost only R100. Orders may be placed at the chamber's office. NQtac will prepare the soup.

For more information about these events, send an e-mail to manager@georgechamber.co.za or phone 044 874 3349 or 083 303 7801.

Theo Adams, board member of the George Business Chamber, with Maggie Anderson of Famsa. Photos: Alida de Beer

Networking during the evening, from left: Johan Lubbe (Akademia), Ezette Pool (Ezet's Exclusive Tours), Ina Scholtz (environmental educator) and Carl van Blerk (founder and CEO of the Garden Route Food Pantry).