Small businesses, big wins: CDI-Jobs Fund SCALE programme boosts job creation

The Craft and Design Institute’s (CDI) first-ever SCALE (Supporting Creatives + Accelerating Local Enterprises) programme has delivered impressive results, enabling 174 informal craft and design enterprises to expand, and creating at least 55 new jobs in three years.

In partnership with the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund, SCALE breaks new ground by backing self-employed entrepreneurs in the informal sector – many of them running small, unregistered businesses. This marks a significant shift from previous CDI-Jobs Fund initiatives, which focused on larger, more established enterprises.

The CDI has collaborated with the Jobs Fund and other partners for more than a decade. Its Innovation Project (2018-2023) alone created 669 new permanent jobs, fast-tracked 23 innovations, and leveraged R384 million in investment.

The SCALE programme has three cohorts. The first cohort of 96 entrepreneurs began the programme in April 2023. The second cohort started in July 2023 with 61 participants, and the third cohort commenced in February 2024 with 59 entrepreneurs. To date, 216 entrepreneurs have signed up for the SCALE programme, and 174 of them have graduated.

Standout results

CDI Group CEO Erica Elk says SCALE results have surpassed expectations:

• Revenue across participants: Soared by 108.86%, compared with a modest 5% target.
• Turnover: More than doubled, from R16.8 million to R35.2 million.
• Earnings: Six entrepreneurs now earn more than R1 million a year.
• Payments to participants: 95% now pay themselves a salary or benefits, averaging R11 346 per month.
• Job creation: At least 55 new informal jobs and four permanent jobs have been created.

Reflecting on SCALE’s success, Elk says: “The key point with SCALE was whether our tested methodology for established businesses – catalytic funding, mentoring and support – could be applied to smaller, informal enterprises to create jobs and help grow the economy.

“The answer has been a resounding yes. Not only has the programme stimulated growth in revenue and earnings for business owners, it has also shown us how agile and flexible these informal businesses are in creating new work and job opportunities – down and upstream of their main business activity,”

SCALE methodology

Grant disbursements of R23 000 each gave micro businesses the fuel to grow, for investing in equipment, materials and technical services. In total, R6.4 million in growth grants was channeled in 4 052 transactions.

In tandem with the grant funding, SCALE offered personalised business assessments to help each successful applicant create a business roadmap. This was followed by six months of online training, webinars, and practical support.

• Webinars and online training: 207 sessions were delivered through CDI’s learning platform www.LEARN.thecdi.org.za.
• Mentoring and coaching: The CDI invested 3 500+ hours. 
• Admin support: Successful applicants received a reporting grant of R5 000 (as an incentive to provide progress reports), and airtime/data to the value of R3 000 (to support online engagements), in addition to the R23 000 grant. 
• Online marketplace: 174 participants received platform access to our online marketplace.
• Portable card machines: 119 participants received YOCO Khumo point-of-sale devices to enable any-time/anyplace transactions.
• Decorex Cape Town Trade Show: 16 participants have been showcased via the Department of Small Business Development National Pavilion

Powerful partnerships

“Millions of South Africans rely on the informal economy for their livelihoods, whether through self-employment or micro-enterprises,” says Najwah Allie-Edries, head of the Jobs Fund. “Supporting the growth of this sector is critical to building a more inclusive economy.

“Through the SCALE programme, we have seen how targeted support can unlock the potential of informal and micro-entrepreneurs – helping them grow sustainable businesses that create jobs, strengthen communities, and contribute to South Africa’s economy.”

Olwethu Kwayiba, CDI Project Manager, adds: “When SCALE launched in 2023, I could never have imagined the scale of its impact. To watch these creatives show up with courage and commitment, persevere through challenges, and demonstrate the true power of the informal economy to drive inclusive growth, has been nothing short of inspiring.

“These results are a testament to the hard work and resilience of our entrepreneurs, and to the unwavering support of our partners. A heartfelt thank you to the Jobs Fund, City of Cape Town, other partners, and the dedicated CDI team – from the Learn Hub to the Market Access team, coaches, and support staff – for walking this journey with us and believing in this vision.”

Growth journeys

Several entrepreneurs shared powerful success stories when the first and second SCALE cohorts graduated on 3 and 4 September in Cape Town and Johannesburg:

• Zokufa Media Productions: Pam Zokufa, a former SABC news cameraperson, became a Seta-accredited youth trainer in film and TV production. Bolstered by the SCALE programme, she has directed a R500,000 budget film, screened at festivals in the Netherlands and Ghana and is currently pitching for a large budget production.
  
• Vivacious Eco Vixon: Founder Natasha Pearce re-engineers excess textiles into home décor and lifestyle products. Prior to SCALE, her largest order was1000 units  ‒in September 2025 she started delivery on an order for 15 000 units. Staff have grown from 10 to 35, with 300 people from nine small factories working alongside them.
• CoralBloom Studio: Former academic Dr Michelle von Stein founded CoralBloom Studio in 2019, manufacturing homeware products. SCALE enabled her to grow her team from three to 26, while her products are stocked in 13 Tourvest stores. Von Stein is about to launch her first clothing collection.
• Cupido Leather Works: Anita and Daniel Cupido founded their leather shoe and accessory-making business in 2022 in Genadendal. Funding enabled them to expand into three new ranges: children’s sandals, school shoes and veldskoene.
• Kingsdale Emporio: Lewis Ndlovu stocks unisex, trendy and corporate sock ranges. He now employs three staff, plans to source his own sock-making machinery to boost production, and is exploring the export market.

Read more about National Treasury’s Jobs Fund here – https://www.jobsfund.org.za

Images below: Some of our graduates from the SCALE programme (Cape Town above and Johannesburg below this)