Marketing
The EYB intervention cycle begins with marketing the programme. EYB trainers market the programme to the right target group based on their marketing plans, which they use in creating awareness about the programme and attracting clients.

Needs Assessment
Following the marketing process, and client’s interest in the programme, the EYB trainer visits the client to assess the business’ needs. This is done to enable the trainer to design truly needs-based training interventions that result in high client satisfaction and significant training impact. Alternatively, the entrepreneur may visit the trainer’ company to discuss the business growth needs.

Selection and Grouping
At this stage the clients are selected based on needs identified and grouped according to common needs to ensure effectiveness of the intervention. This is necessary to ensure that the intervention (particularly) appeals to all the participants.

EYB Intervention Customization
The EYB trainer presents the client with the proposal for the EYB intervention based on needs identified. It is necessary here to be flexible in customizing the offer to clients, especially in terms of organizing the session at times and places that are convenient to your clients. This is further negotiated and agreed between the trainer and clients.

EYB Classroom Training
At this stage clients are provided training in the EYB modules beginning with Strategic Management and then followed by Marketing Management,Operations Management ,Human Resources Management and then Financial Management. It is recommended that after the Strategic Management module, delivery of the other 3 modules should take place 2-4 weeks after the Strategic Management module. Training takes place in conducive seminar environments where growth entrepreneurs feel encouraged to learn and to network among themselves and with linkage partners. After-training drinks may be organised at times to allow effective networking and creation of effective linkages.

Follow-up Counselling Session
Each EYB client receives two counselling sessions aftereach module The purpose of the counselling is to encourage finalisation of the growth plan and assist the client with its implementation. The trainer will also assess the implementation of knowledge and skills learnt during the EYB training.

Business Support Groups
A Business Support Group is a group activity where growth entrepreneurs meet to discuss common problems on needs identified, challenges and solutions, network with each other and receive expert advice from invited resource specialists in identified areas.

Business Support Groups are established by the facilitator/trainer in response to specific business / sectoral issues affecting a group of clients that cannot be effectively addressed in regular classroom training.

Issues to be discussed in these groups range from export or domestic markets, financial linkages, taxation on business profits, etc, etc. As the relevance of organising the group depends on the identification of common topics affecting the growth entrepreneurs, they are considered optional.

Facilitation of Financial and Business Linkages
Throughout the training and follow-up process, the client is assisted with various linkage services, which are important for the GOE to achieve growth. Clients can be linked to credit providers, business / contractual opportunities, export development agencies, legal services and more.

Linkages to Finance: here the EYB trainer establishes a relationship with suitable finance institutions willing to provide business finance needs for the benefit of EYB clients. Finance institutions are invited to make presentations on their lending requirements and other services during the classroom training and Business Support Groups. Potential linkage partners range from commercial banks, leasing and venture capital companies and so on.

Business linkages: here the EYB trainer facilitates a relationship between the client and various business service providers that lead to substantial added value to the client. These could be business linkages through institutions facilitating sub-contracting of products and services between large and small firms for local businesses, or export development agencies to assist firms interested in developing export markets.

These relationships interface with the EYB programme at the classroom and business support group level. The EYB trainer invites the relevant institutions. This provides for a forum for these institutions to market their services and interact with potential clients for their services. The interaction can lead to the establishment of business relations between the provider of services and the growth entrepreneur.

Specialist Support Services
Linkages can also be provided with specialist support services. These could be insurance companies, accounting firms, advertising agencies, computer related firms and legal services as identified during needs assessment.

Mentorships
These are programmes where professionals give their time to counsel businesses on a variety of areas. Their services may be offered as individual experts or through an institutional set-up providing expertise and resource persons. The EYB programme seeks to link up existing mentorship programmes and EYB enterprises to address their specific needs.