The Star

Building legacies, not just businesses: Metropolitan’s Collective Shapers programme hits national roads

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Staff Reporter|Published

Small businesses already contribute around 24% to the country’s GDP, yet many promising ventures collapse within 2-3 years of starting.

Image: Supplied

With unemployment in South Africa sitting at a staggering 33.2%, entrepreneurship has become more than just a choice; it’s a lifeline for thousands of young people.

Small businesses already contribute around 24% to the country’s GDP, yet many promising ventures collapse within 2-3 years of starting. This reality makes programmes like Metropolitan Collective Shapers (MCS) not just relevant, but essential.

Now in its fourth iteration, MCS is a powerful youth empowerment and social impact initiative that provides both financial and non-financial support to entrepreneurs. It offers investment funding, business and leadership coaching, national exposure, access to real market opportunities, and ongoing mentorship, branding and media training specifically supporting small businesses in the agriculture and logistics sectors.

Originally launched as a regional programme, the demand and success of MCS have paved the way for it to go national in 2025.

The impact is real

Over the past three editions in Polokwane, Tshwane, and KwaZulu-Natal, MCS has proven its ability to transform lives and communities. Participants have grown sustainable businesses, created jobs, and built legacies that ripple far beyond their own families.

  • Peter, a poultry farmer, grew his flock, doubled his chickens and expanded his infrastructure with his prize money.
  • Benjamin scaled his vegetable farm to supply national retailers. Employed interns 
  • Thabiso renovated his store with local builders, then secured SEFA funding to launch a mobile kitchen, feeding his community and creating jobs.
  • Dikeledi turned a chapel into a thriving wedding venue, hosting more than 20 weddings and employing additional staff.
  • Introduction of the online masterclass to reach more entrepreneurs in agriculture – 800 plus attended online
  • Access to accredited online modules cover business and soft skills

These are not just business success stories; they are stories of dignity, resilience, and financial freedom. They show how entrepreneurship can chip away at South Africa’s unemployment crisis, one determined innovator at a time.

“This is more than Metropolitan’s belief in the power of Together We Can. This is a collective journey towards progress. We’re looking for entrepreneurs who share our passion for success, and for lifting others as they rise.”– Lindiwe Gumede, Chief Marketing Officer at Metropolitan

What the programme offers

The programme is open to 150 applicants and combines technical training, mentorship, and business development support with something just as vital: ongoing financial advice to help entrepreneurs safeguard their families while building their futures.

  • Phase 1: One month of online soft skills training to strengthen leadership and resilience.
  • Phase 2: The top 20 participants progress to four weeks of sector-specific training.
  • Phase 3: A final top 10 selection process.
  • Legacy: All 150 participants retain lifetime access to Metropolitan’s online resources, networks, and support to ensure the journey continues long after the programme closes in February 2026.

Calling all agri-preneurs and logistics business owners

Applications are now open for the 2025 Metropolitan Collective Shapers intake, designed for young entrepreneurs in agriculture and logistics, these two sectors with proven power to drive growth, opportunity, and meaningful change.

Even if applicants don’t reach the final stages, they will continue to benefit from access to Metropolitan resources and networks that can support their business long after the programme concludes.

  • Must be between 18 and 35 years old
  • Permanent resident of South Africa
  • Business must be 100% South African-owned (priority given to historically disadvantaged groups and people living with disabilities)
  • Business must have been operating for at least 12 months
  • Operate in the agriculture or logistics sector
  • The founder must be full-time dedicated to the business (not a side hustle)
  • Commitment to the programme from 1 October 2025 to 1 March 2026

How to apply

  1. Visit metropolitan.co.za/collectiveshapers directly, or navigate via the Metropolitan website.
  2. Click “Apply Here”.
  3. Fill in the required application details.
  4. Submit and complete your entry.
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