Opportunities for emerging and small business specializing in platinum and palladium jewellery manufacturing were close to non-existent in the past. A new breed of world class individual and SME are coming up from incubation in the seda Platinum Incubator (SPI).
Propelled by the changes and the provisions of the Mining Beneficiation Bill, the SPI was set up as the first platinum group metals (PGM) beneficiation centre. Its objective is to make it possible for emerging SMEs to add value to South African raw materials, mainly platinum and palladium before export.
Majority of businesses conduct their operations in the centre premises, located inside the North West Orbit FET College Campus, where they have access to state of the art jewellery manufacturing machinery, advice on marketing and general business management. A few businesses are virtual tenants, with premises elsewhere.
Incubation of each business is limited to a period of not more than three years, after which they would have acquired the necessary skills and market reach.
“The idea is to get the entrepreneurs up and running in this cushioned environment, allowing them time and providing access to resources that will make their business viable in the shortest time possible,” says Gordon Freer, CEO at the SPI.
Over the past 18 months, the SPI has helped set up 12 jewellery manufacturing enterprises on their path to success.
By reducing barriers to entry for previously disadvantaged individuals into the mineral beneficiation industry, the SPI strategy is applauded for its particular success to date.
Expanding the skills base
Mining beneficiation is one of the industries where skills are generally scarce. The challenge is intensified by limited experience and skills in working with platinum and palladium metals. “We have set up a world-class platinum jewellery training facility to build the skills base of aspiring jewellers wishing to work with PGMs. Entrants to the programme go through 18 months of intensive industry-based training and on the job experience through learnerships with our tenants and partner organisations,”
The centre already boasts award-winning designers in its stable. One of its students – Angelique Phillips - won the Best Contemporary Design at the annual Plat Africa Awards in 2007. Plat Africa Awards is competition sponsored by Anglo Platinum to encourage innovative design in platinum jewellery. .
Demand boosts potential
Recent research shows that the platinum market is at an unprecedented growth spur, with local and international demand set to increase. South Africa is by far the largest producer and supplier of platinum to the global market. This puts SA in an ideal position to take advantage of the market by stimulating a local jewellery industry capable of .producing reasonably priced platinum jewellery to a growing global demand.
ENDS
Issued by: Caron Communications
info@caroncomms.co.za
www.caroncomms.co.za
