FREE BUSINESS PLAN TRAINING TO OPEN FUNDING DOORS FOR YOUNG BAKERS

BY NELIWE NGUBANE

MANZINI – Young bakers across Eswatini are set to receive a major boost as Cake Baking Eswatini and the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) roll out a free Business Plan Training aimed at equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills needed to secure funding and build sustainable baking businesses.

The one-day training will take place on July 28, 2026, at the Liberty Community Centre in Manzini from 8am to 4pm. It targets young people aged between 18 and 35 who are already operating baking businesses, planning to venture into the industry or aspiring to become professional bakers.

According to a media release issued by Cake Baking Eswatini, the initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the organisation and YERF to strengthen youth entrepreneurship through business development, mentorship and access to financial support.

The training has been specifically designed to help participants prepare professional and fundable business plans that meet YERF loan application requirements, enabling them to access the Fund’s financial assistance and establish viable enterprises.

Participants will be trained on how to write winning business plans, prepare business cash flow projections and financial plans, understand YERF loan requirements and application procedures, and implement strategies for growing successful baking businesses. They will also be introduced to the Bakers Start-Up Loan and other business support programmes available through the partnership.

Cake Baking Eswatini said the programme seeks to address one of the biggest challenges facing young entrepreneurs, where many possess exceptional baking skills but lack the business knowledge required to commercialise their talent and access funding opportunities.

The organisation said the partnership with YERF is committed to transforming passion into profitable enterprises by providing young people with practical entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy and ongoing business support.

Eligible young people have been encouraged to attend the training, which the organisation described as an opportunity to gain the knowledge, confidence and support needed to build successful businesses within Eswatini’s growing baking industry.

Interested participants can register or obtain further information by contacting 7637 4236 or 7606 4002.

The Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund is a government initiative that provides financial and business development support to youth-owned enterprises. Its collaboration with Cake Baking Eswatini is focused on empowering young bakers through entrepreneurship training and improved access to funding, enabling them to create sustainable businesses and contribute to economic growth.