Almost all of ORT SA's projects are aimed at the broader South African community, in particular previously disadvantaged communities. ORTJET, however, is a Jewish-focused project geared to benefiting Jewish businesses. This is aligned to ORT’s mission, and the success of this project will extend to the broader SA community with successful ORTJET-assisted businesses stimulating the economy and providing employment.
ORTJET is a non-profit organisation and a division of ORT South Africa.
ORTJET takes Jewish-owned businesses that are ‘distressed’ and, through the use of volunteer consultants, advises and assists these businesses to turn around and become sustainable. This is critical for SA Jewry.
ORT SA is the driver and custodian of the project, but it has many interested parties including the Office of the Chief Rabbi (UOS), the Chevra Kadisha, and the Rambam Trust.
Dr Avron Urison is the CEO of the project and with his dynamic team they point businesses in a positive direction. They operate from the ORT premises in Johannesburg. ORTJET operates in Johannesburg and Cape Town at the moment. Ideas for the future include presenting the concept to Jewish organisations internationally.
Vision:
To create an environment where the majority of South African Jewish-owned businesses are self-sufficient and sustainable.
Mission:
To use the available resources, skills base, knowledge and expertise within the Jewish community to assist in establishing the self-sufficiency and sustainability of all South African Jewish-owned businesses.
Objectives:
1. To use the current business knowledge and professional expertise within the Jewish community to provide Jewish-owned businesses with the required assistance. This with the proviso that the businesses in question can exhibit sustainable business models, either now or in the near future.
2. To help debt-ridden families return from a position of near financial disaster to one of stability.
3. For ORTJET to become a prominent and well-respected assistance organisation within the South African Jewish community.
Methodology:
Business owners looking for assistance fill in a questionnaire (either online or on paper) and submit certain business documents. This information is entered into the ORTJET database for analysis.
ORTJET uses a business scorecard to analyse the data, ascertaining the specific requirements of the business and establishing which volunteer consultants could best impact on its recovery. Core skills from within the consultant pool are matched to the needs of the business.
The selected consultant/s meet with the business owner to define the necessary interventions and the expected outcomes.
Each "business in recovery" appoints a "champion" from within its own ranks. Recovery initiatives are implemented under the direction of the champion, who may be the business owner or a designated member of staff.
The champion interacts with ORTJET and the consultant/s where necessary to report on the progress of the various initiatives.
The success of initiatives, measured by changes in the scorecard analysis, are reviewed by ORTJET periodically.
Support offered by ORTJET:
1.Consultant expertise in all areas of business.
2.Skills transfer and development.
3.Training programmes.
4.Engaging and networking with prominent Jewish businessmen and the community.
5.JETPages Business Directory