The EPTF team meets Agnes Kamau at her catering business having lunch. The scrumptious meal comprised of well fried Githeri and mouth watering traditional greens. She asks her staff to take our orders as we settle in for a brief chat on her business.
Agnes has always had a passion for cooking ever since she was a young girl. Even during her short stint in employment, she would make cakes for fun and even sell to her friends.
She says, “Before EPTF training, business was as usual. Sales and profits were there but hardly documented, so I ended up making money and using it instead of saving up or investing.”
It is her Mentor who happens to be EPTF’s Chief Executive Officer Mary Kamore that recommended the EPTF entrepreneurship training.
Kamore says, “When I got into a mentoring relationship with Agnes, way back in 2011, I was not quite sure what mentoring will do to her. One thing was very clear, though, that Agnes loves what she does and had a strong desire to do it better.”
She proudly adds, “Today seeing that not only has the business grown significantly as a result but she is mentoring others as well, I can say mentoring is worth every effort. “
The mentoring at EPTF is designed to deliver soft skills to entrepreneurs assisting them to remain in business for long and enjoy tremendous growth. More so, the mentees are provided guidance in spiritual life ultimately making them Kingdom Minded Entrepreneurs. As 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
18 years in business and Agnes is thankful for EPTF, time and energy invested to accumulate that kind of knowledge.
“Now, I’m conducting my business in a professional way. More so, my business records are updated & kept well and I set goals that help me and the business plan effectively.” Agnes comments.
The hotel and catering business comprises of two entities. One that deals with offering cake training, baking and delivery. The other, is a hotel on a physical building. In a good month, Agnes makes sales of KES 93,000/- and after deducting expenses of KES 57, 000/- documents KES 36,000/- as profits.
In the midst of unfair competition and too many players in the hotel and catering business, Agnes is not shaken and says in two years her business would have expanded into other territory based on the bigger vision and plans that she has set for the business.