Khanyisile Nkosi

Khanyisile Nkosi

Business Partners this week launched a multimillion- rand fund to boost women entrepreneurs.

Jo Schwenke, pictured, managing director of Business Partners, said the R200million fund was created to help women with capital, business skills and knowledge sustain and expand their businesses.

The growing number of women in business, particularly in small and medium size enterprises, was another motivating factor to create the fund, Schwenke said.

"Women have a far better opportunity to empower themselves as entrepreneurs than they do in regular employment or big business," he said.

Schwenke said an average of 14 new jobs were created by a women-owned business.

"Currently approximately 30percent of our client base comprises businesses owned and run by women. Our experience has shown that women can take on absolutely anything they set their minds to."

Schwenke said the fund would help women who had more than 25 percent ownership of the business and who required investment up to R5million.

He said applications would be assessed mainly in terms of the viability of the business, the associated risks and the integrity, drive, skills and experience of the entrepreneur.