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A ZIMBABWEAN based in the United Kingdom, Francis Neshamba, has teamed up with his wife Ania to establish a Centre for Enterprise and Consulting to help rural dwellers.

A ZIMBABWEAN based in the United Kingdom, Francis Neshamba, has teamed up with his wife Ania to establish a Centre for Enterprise and Consulting — dubbed Bestwood House Academy — to help rural dwellers.

Report by Winstone Antonio

The project is aimed at assisting the community at Cromlet, about 40 kilometres outside Harare.

The Neshambas are set to convert their mansion on a 10-acre piece of land that was built in 1998 into the academy.

The academy is billed to be operational next year.

In an interview with NewsDay Community, Neshamba said as an enterprising couple, their desire is to help the community develop business ideas which will enable them to start their own businesses and earn a decent living.

“As a couple, we are both entrepreneurs with a passionate view of enterprise and entrepreneurship. Converting our own house into a Centre for Enterprise and Management Consulting for the benefit of people who live in the local community is a complete dedication and commitment towards our passion for enterprise development and we would like to contribute towards the development of our community and country as whole.

“Bestwood House Academy is driven by a passion for innovation and creativity. The academy is aiming to foster a strong business portfolio, warm relationships and engage closely with the hopes and aspirations of each individual entrepreneur.

“Our aim is for the academy to be the most outstanding centre for enterprise and be recognised as the most successful centre for enterprise and business solutions in Africa,” Neshamba said.

He added that the academy would act as a bridge between school and enterprise creation and growth, as it seeks to prepare its participants for enterprise creation and development and providing employment opportunities to locals.

“This academy is going to be a 21st century learning institution with every course of study being ‘tailor-made’ in order to enable Bestwood House students to select a programme which reflects their personal strengths and passions and puts them on the first step of the journey towards realisation of their aspirations and dreams,” Neshamba added.

As founders of Bestwood House, the Neshambas said they will seek the authorisation of the Higher and Tertiary Education ministry to deliver courses such as Certificate and Diploma in Entrepreneurship, Certificate and Diploma in Professional Consulting, Certificate and Diploma in Business Support for SMEs, Diploma in Management and Leadership and Diploma in Strategic Direction and Leadership, among others.

Neshamba is a full-time senior lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Nottingham Trent University’s Business School in the United Kingdom.

He attained a PhD in Management Studies at Cranfield University’s School of Management in the UK.

His doctoral thesis focused on transition or growth of enterprises from small to medium size while his wife is actively involved in property development and management.