Opportunity Issue 104

BUSINESS RESILIENCE
Connect Space has prime locations available in KwaZulu-Natal.
A failed turnaround strategy and unsuccessful business rescue
attempt left the company facing voluntary liquidation.
“Feeling like our world had just come to an end, we began
navigating our way through the liquidation. At the time I envisaged
locks on doors, ruined lives, repossessed equipment, the sheriff at
my home, rejection and alienation. What we witnessed was love,
compassion and support,” he says.
They found creditors who were prepared to engage, supportive
customers and motivated staff. “This drove us to find a way out,
but we had to get the support of the liquidators. Having presented
our case to them, they agreed to a ’holding pattern’ where we
could continue trading under their administration. In essence, the
old business was dead, but they were giving us the opportunity to
birth a new one,” he says.
It was January 2021. His previous business partner took charge
of the Johannesburg businesses, leaving him two in Durban.
Bradley says that the Covid landscape has created a unique set
of circumstances where the skills he had honed operating in the
short-term and small office rental market over the past 15 years
were perfect to support landlords.
“Today, we’re a startup, a new brand and a new business but
100 times more prepared than before. The market has changed
and so have we. We’re developing a new model, one that suits the
future of space and services and one that will better benefit the
user. Our immediate goal is to build the brand and dominate the
market with a range of products more suited to the agile, workfrom-anywhere
workforce.”
Throughout this change, remembers Bradley, EO provided him with
a safe space and support base while he was “figuring things out”.
Recovering and connecting
Saskia Hill: owner of MCS Debt Recovery and founder of
Connect BPS
Saski Hill’s business was completely destroyed during the July
2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal.
“How do you react when you are told that your entire business
has been burnt down? Not through negligence but by political
unrest, something which is totally out
of your control? This is something that
you never expect to happen. It was an
emotional, stressful time,” she recalls.
MCS Debt Recovery counts leading
banks, financial service providers,
insurance companies and retailers
as clients. Connect BPS’s clients are
American based.
It was these clients, together with
staff, suppliers and her network of
business associates who helped her
begin to rebuild her business and,
quite literally “rise from the ashes”.
Saskia Hill
“Every challenge you face in business allows you to build resilience
and endurance which ultimately makes you stronger. When tragedy
struck with the burning of the MCS/Connect building, I had to tap
into that resilience to move forward. My inner strength and courage
was supported by an amazing group of people.
“It is during these challenging times that you call upon the
relationships in which you have invested through the years, your family,
friends, industry associates, mentors and business supporters.
“This includes our EO tribe! Members from around the world
reached out to me to offer assistance. The members were there
to encourage, support and motivate me through the journey of
rebuilding,” she says.
One year later, the building is still not rebuilt. However, she has been
able to re-establish her business and continue her entrepreneurial
journey despite the turbulent economic times.
“As entrepreneurs, we need to have a good understanding of the
operations from the shop floor to the disaster-recovery procedures
The building might not be ready yet, but the staff of MCS Debt Recovery are raring to to.
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