Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Western Cape are tapping into new growth opportunities at this year’s Knysna Oyster Festival. For many local businesses, the event is a chance to connect with broader audiences, explore fresh business prospects, and gain practical insights to accelerate their growth.

This year, Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking (BCB) is also sponsoring the festival’s Neighbourhood Makers Market. The Hub is a focal point for entrepreneurs looking to showcase products, test new ideas, and build relationships that could strengthen their businesses over the long term. With support from BCB, the Hub is transforming possibilities into opportunities, enabling businesses to engage new markets and think beyond their traditional customer base.

Among the businesses participating is Zuki from Zuki’s Cold Pressed Juices, a Knysna-based health and juice brand, using the festival to spotlight her small business and connect with potential distributors, consumers, and peers.

“Through this initiative, SMEs have the potential to generate significant economic value. Last year, over 20 SMEs participated in the Hub, collectively generating R300 000 in sales and creating temporary employment for 30 people. This year we have grown to offer this opportunity to around 40 SMEs businesses in Knysna”, says Lungiswa Goya, Manager for Economic Development at the Knysna Municipality.

“Local SMEs are the heartbeat of economic growth, job creation, and community development,” says Michael Hill, Head Region: Business Banking (Western Cape) at Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking. “The Knysna Oyster Festival offers practical opportunities for businesses to test ideas and connect with new partners or customers. Our role is to support these entrepreneurs so they can turn potential into progress and build resilience for the future.”

Beyond the festival, local SMEs are also accessing business development support through the Western Cape Accelerator Programme, aimed at helping black-owned businesses grow sustainably. The programme reflects BCB’s approach of partnering with businesses as they start, manage, and grow, and is built on the idea that sustainable success requires not only financial resources but also guidance, skills, and strong networks.

Launched in partnership with the Knysna and Bitou Municipalities in June 2025, the 12-week Accelerator Programme is currently supporting 60 businesses through:

• Business and financial training
• Mentorship and coaching
• Market development strategies
• Networking and business advisory support

SMEs contribute over 60% of employment in South Africa’s private sector and around 34% of GDP. However, the sector continues to face significant challenges, including a 50% drop in turnover in 2024 and the loss of more than 294,000 formal jobs between June and September last year.

“Many SMEs have the ideas and drive to grow, but they need access to resources and networks that help navigate obstacles and unlock new avenues,” adds Hill. “That’s where partnerships and support structures become essential.”

“In addition, as part of the bank’s commitment to supporting small businesses, Standard Bank is enhancing the trading experience at the Neighbourhood Makers Market through its SimplyBLU platform, powered by VISA. This all-in-one card payment solution enables participating SMEs to offer customers a seamless, secure, and frictionless payment experience. By simplifying transactions and improving payment efficiency, SimplyBLU empowers entrepreneurs to focus,” explains, Michael.

Initiatives like the Knysna Oyster Festival Neighbourhood Makers Market and the Western Cape Accelerator Programme not only empower individual businesses but also contribute to the regional economy. The Knysna Oyster Festival impacts the broader economy through its contribution to the Tourism and Hospitality, the Retail and Transport Sectors as it attracts more than fourteen thousand people across the country. These initiatives help sustain Western Cape tourism and stimulate local job creation, injecting an estimated R6,7 million into the local economy annually.

The Neighbourhood Makers Market is open to the public daily from 10am–10pm at the Knysna High School Sports Field, offering visitors the chance to discover unique local products and support small businesses.