Hero’s helps entrepreneurs unlock the full potential of their Small Business.
At Hero’s, we guide business owners with practical one on one coaching and training to improve performance, reduce wastage and increase profits. With over 35 years of practical, small business experience, we help you take control, plan confidently and ultimately ensure the sustainability of your business.
All Hero’s programmes engender a spirit of Good Stewardship and Accountability.
Out of the restructuring of the Small Business Development Corporation in 1996, Gary was given the opportunity to take over the Small Business Training Division in Gauteng for his own account. Under the name SBDC Training Services (PTY) Ltd. 4 branches were established across Gauteng and with SBDC Ltd, (founded by Dr. Anton Rupert in 1979) as an equity partner, SBDC Training Services was launched on 1 February 1996.
SBDC Ltd. subsequently became Business Partners Ltd., which then led to the rebranding of SBDC Training Services, to Hero’s Small Business Training. With entrepreneurs being the “Heroes” of the economy, the relevance and impact of the revised name “Hero’s” was obvious, “Helping Entrepreneur’s Realize Opportunities”.
Together with his wife, Debbie, Gary has steadily grown the business into what it is today. Although short, practical, small group, business skills training courses formed the backbone of Hero’s for many years. A change in focus took place in 2018. Because of the urgent, daily needs of small business owners together with the poor implementation of knowledge and skills acquired in the training courses, it was imperative that Hero’s became more involved in the lives of entrepreneurs through Business Coaching.
The coaching programme is a very simple yet practical toolbox that helps Small Business Owners protect their business as well as implement basic strategies to ensure profitability and sustainability. More than 500 Small Business Owners have benefitted from coaching and at any one time, there are more than 30 clients on the different programmes. Short training courses and ad hoc consultation services remain part of what Hero’s has to offer but to a lesser degree.
The philosophy and style of Hero’s Coaching has and will always embrace the principles of:
To support and develop entrepreneurs in their goals to protect, grow and sustain their SME businesses.
To use practical coaching and training tools to help SME owners to embrace the principles of order, good stewardship and accountability.
CEO
and shareholder/owner of Hero’s
Gary grew up in Port Elizabeth and attended Grey High School and graduated from U.P.E. in 1982 with a B.Com. In 1985 he obtained a B.Com Honours degree from UNISA. After working for 4 years in banking, he joined the Small Business Development Corporation, where he worked for 9 years before going on his own in 1996. Gary is married to Debbie, who is also his business partner and together they have 3 professionally qualified children in the medical and legal fields. Gary fulfills the role of CEO, Head of Marketing and Lead Coach.
Operation manager and shareholder
Debbie also grew up in Port Elizabeth, attended Collegiate School for Girls and graduated from U.P.E. in 1982 with a BA Degree in Industrial Psychology and Sociology. Debbie joined Gary in the company in 1996 and fulfills the role of operations manager and niche market, business coach.
Whilst Hero’s makes use of a small team of contract coaches, all coaches are well experienced and skilled in practical businesses issues.
