THE Black Industrialist Scheme
The Black Industrialist Scheme (BIS), administered by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), is a government incentive designed to accelerate the growth of black-owned manufacturing and industrial businesses in South Africa through deliberate, targeted and well-defined financial and non-financial interventions.
The Black Industrialist Scheme
Transforming South Africa Through Industrial Growth
South Africa’s future growth depends on one thing above all else: industrialisation. Strong local manufacturing, energy resilience, agro-processing capacity and value-added production are the engines that create jobs, deepen supply chains and unlock inclusive economic growth.
We work at the intersection of Black Industrialist development, DTIC grant funding, and Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) – helping ambitious entrepreneurs scale industrial businesses, while enabling corporates to deploy ESD funding in a way that creates measurable, long-term impact
IndustrIes
The Scheme focuses on productive sectors that contribute towards localisation and Job Creation.
These include manufacturing, agro-processing, food processing, energy and renewable energy components, chemicals, industrial inputs, engineering, automotive components, and other value-added industrial activities aligned with South Africa’s industrial policy.
key characteristics
The BIS is a matching grant incentive, meaning entrepreneurs must contribute their own capital.
It is sector-specific, focused on productive industry. It prioritises sustainable job creation and localisation. It supports scalable businesses with clear growth strategies rather than early-stage concepts. It is aligned to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) goals
Why should you Invest?
Supporting a Black Industrialist at the capital-raising stage has a multiplier effect:
- Stronger suppliers and value chains
- Reduced reliance on imports
- Sustainable job creation
- Measurable ESD outcomes
It moves ESD from a tick-box exercise to a strategic industrial intervention.
For Industrialists
Aspiring or Established
Black Industrialist
If you are a Black Industrialist operating in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, food processing, agro-processing or related industrial activities, access to the right expansion capital can be the difference between survival and scale.
The Black Industrialist Scheme (BIS), administered by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), was created to accelerate the growth of Black-owned industrial businesses. But while the opportunity is significant, the process is complex, competitive and capital-intensive.
That’s where we come in.
For Corporates
Sponsor a Black
industrialist
South African companies are under increasing pressure to ensure that Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD)spend delivers real economic value, not just compliance points. Our “Sponsor a Black Industrialist” initiative offers a powerful alternative.
Instead of fragmented support, corporates can deploy ESD funding to directly finance professional advisory support for qualifying Black Industrialists, including:
– Funding Readiness Assessments
– Capital raising advisory work
– BIS and DTIC grant funding preparation
This approach ensures that ESD funding is used to unlock real expansion capital, real factories, real jobs and real industrial capability
In simple terms
Strategic Advisory for the Capital-Raising Journey
We provide hands-on strategic advisory support to Black Industrialists preparing to raise funding through the Black Industrialist Scheme (BIS) and other DTIC grant funding mechanisms. Our role is not just about applications – it’s about building bankable, fundable industrial businesses.
- Funding Readiness Assessments
- Capital structuring and expansion planning
- BIS and DTIC grant funding preparation
- Financial modelling and investment narratives
- Advisory support aligned to industrial policy priorities.
We work with entrepreneurs who are serious about scaling, businesses that want to move from small-to-medium industrial players into national and regional champions.
People with passion drive profit with purpose
About Decusatio
Founded by former financial journalist and editor Marc Ashton, Decusatio is a South African strategic advisory firm working across key business units.
Our experienced team can work with your high-growth business to help free you up to run your business.
Do you require
women-owned service providers for your Preferential Procurement
2026 sees significant amendments to the B-BBEE codes in South Africa with many businesses being challenged to bring in 100% black-owned and 100% black women-owned businesses into their supply chains.
Work through us and you can meet both of these Preferential Procurement goals on your B-BBEE scorecard while partnering with an organisation which has assessed over 2500 small businesses and over R3bn in capital across DTIC Grants, Debt Funding and Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) partnerships
Services include
- Business valuations and business brokerage
- Capital raising (Training and execution)
- Financial modeling
If you need to add black / black-women owned professional services to your Preferential Procurement, we have a team on hand.