British Airways’ invests R29m to promote expansion of local businesses

British Airways has launched a R29 million initiative to encourage local companies to expand overseas and reinvigorate business travel.

British Airways Business Opportunity Grants will award 50 small-to-medium sized South African companies a year’s worth of business travel. Each of the winners will receive 10 Club World tickets that are valid for a year.
The economic downturn has seen business travel budgets internationally slashed by more than 56% over the past year and South Africa has been no exception, with the airline experiencing a considerable contraction in corporate bookings.

“This is a really tough environment in which to do business and we’re hoping that by offering 50 South African companies an opportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise have had, we can help them open up new opportunities and start to reinvigorate business travel by demonstrating the benefits of doing business face-to-face,” says Sue Botes, British Airways Commercial Manager.

Alan Knott-Craig and Sue Botes at the BA Opportunities Announcement

A recent Harvard Business Review study found that 95% of international businesspeople believe that face-to-face meetings are key to establishing and maintaining long-term relationships and 89% agree that these are essential to seal the deal.

Alan Knott-Craig, one of the judges, says his experience bears this out: “The value of face-to-face meetings is incomparable and it’s encouraging to see that British Airways is supporting SMEs through this difficult time, giving them a chance to expand into new markets.”

Nkhensani Nkosi, renowned South African entrepreneur and the founder of Stoned Cherrie, is also an advocate of the BA Opportunity Grants initiative. “SMEs are becoming increasingly important to South Africa’s economy and development. British Airways Opportunity Grants initiative to give South African SMEs an opportunity to develop into new markets in this challenging economic environment will provide SMEs with a much needed boost,” says Nkosi.

The Business Opportunity Grants are for registered companies with 250 employees or less. Entries can be made online at www.ba.com/safrica-grants and applicants will need to outline their objectives for 2010 and how being awarded a grant would benefit their business.

*Figures taken from the Harvard Business Review Analytical Services study of 2,300 subscribers
British Airways Business Opportunity Grants invites South African businesses to make their case for an unmet business travel need and win travel for one year to attend crucial, face-to face meetings. The grants will allow each of the businesses 10 return Club World (business class) tickets to be used at their discretion in 2010. British Airways is covering the cost of the fare; winning companies are responsible for paying taxes, fees and charges.

Whether it’s a sit-down appointment with a potential client, buyer, investor or a check-in on an office that has not been visited because of budget cuts, the programme is designed to help budget-conscious businesses get where they need to go, physically and financially.

Businesses interested in entering the competition should visit www.ba.com/safrica-grants to complete the entry form telling British Airways about their business objectives in 2010 and how a British Airways Business Opportunity Grant would benefit their business.

• Entries will be reviewed by a panel of British Airways executives and independent judges.
• Entries will be accepted until 12h00 on 19th February 2010 and winners will be notified by 19th March 2010.
• Entries must represent companies with 250 employees or less

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