According to Khethiwe Mothobi, founder and owner of Tailor Made Trading and Projects, an SME that specialises in work in the construction and mining sectors, when she was trying to establish her business, she came across a lot of nay sayers. ‘Every time I identified an opportunity that was of interest to me – one I had never done but was willing to learn more about – most people would tell me, “no, you can’t do this. This is not for women.” Them saying “no” made me want to do the “impossible”.

‘Today, I can proudly say Tailor Made Trading works in historically men-only industries such as high- and low-density building maintenance while also specialising in land rehabilitation and demolition, and we are currently the only female-owned company in the Free State province offering that service. As a black woman, I made a resolution that not only would I work in the spaces where women are less represented and build a sustainable business, but my main intention is to empower young women and inspire them to realise that it is possible. They can also do it.’

When Tailor Made Trading was established in 2017, Mothobi’s initial business opportunity was providing catering services at a mine. ‘I then identified building renovations needed in the spaces I was serving or delivering food to. I started enquiring about and applying for such opportunities. From there I made it a goal to be vigilant and identify opportunities that most people would not really want to explore but that have growth potential.’ The company now provides specialised support services including civil works, infrastructure development, mechanical and electrical installations, industrial cleaning, land rehabilitation, building maintenance, equipment supply and project support.

Representation is critical in sectors such as construction and mining, where women remain underrepresented, she says. ‘As a 100% black female-owned business, visibility matters because it challenges stereotypes, inspires other women to enter these industries and ensures diverse perspectives shape how projects are delivered. Representation is not just symbolic – it drives innovation, inclusivity and long-term sustainability.’

Tailor Made Trading balances commercial success with social responsibility by delivering value to clients, investing in employee development, maintaining ethical supplier relationships, supporting meaningful economic growth and skills development within the communities where it operates, promoting women-owned businesses and operating sustainably.

‘As the leader of the business, I remain actively involved in our projects, ensuring every client receives personal attention and that decisions are made quickly and effectively,’ she says. ‘This hands-on approach enables us to be agile, responsive and adaptable – qualities that are often more difficult to achieve in larger organisations with more complex structures.

‘I have always believed that the size of a company does not determine the quality of its service or the value it can deliver. What differentiates our company is our commitment to building genuine relationships with our clients, understanding their unique needs and delivering solutions with integrity, accountability and excellence.’

Mothobi adds that the company’s journey has also instilled resilience and a strong culture of continuous improvement. ‘We understand the importance of earning trust through consistent performance rather than relying on reputation alone. Every project is an opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities, exceed expectations and build long-term partnerships.’

The company, according to Mothobi, has achieved significant milestones in recent years, including relocating from a home-based business to dedicated offices, acquiring heavy machinery, expanding its permanent workforce and receiving awards such as Standard Bank’s Top Women 2024 Top Empowerment Gender Company award and the NAFBI Youth-Owned Built Industry winner in 2023.

Mothobi identifies limited access to finance, restrictive procurement practices, cash flow challenges and administrative burdens as the major obstacles facing smaller companies. ‘While supplier diversity is sometimes treated as a compliance exercise, strategic partnerships with organisations such as Harmony Gold, Sasol and Sibanye-Stillwater have played a transformative role in the company’s growth through mentorship, long-term contracts, funding support and supplier development. These partnerships helped the company transition from an SME to a qualifying small enterprise, creating more employment opportunities and community impact,’ she says.

Mothobi adds that well-led SMEs are the backbone of SA’s economy. ‘From my perspective as a business owner, SMEs play three vital roles. Through job creation, SMEs absorb a significant portion of the workforce, especially in local communities where large corporates are absent. By employing youth and women, they help reduce unemployment and broaden participation in the economy.

‘Secondly, SMEs drive innovation, as they are agile and adapt quickly to market changes, often pioneering new solutions. In sectors like logistics, construction and mining, smaller firms introduce fresh approaches that improve efficiency and competitiveness.

‘Lastly, SMEs support inclusive growth, as they are deeply rooted in their communities. Women-owned and black-owned businesses, in particular, reinvest profits locally – supporting education, health and social development. This creates a multiplier effect that uplifts households and strengthens social cohesion.’

The company has successfully delivered a diverse range of projects across the construction, engineering, infrastructure and maintenance sectors. These projects have included civil construction works, mechanical and electrical installations, facility maintenance, site establishment and de-establishment, equipment supply and rental, and specialised project support services for both public- and private-sector clients.

Mothobi adds, however, that women entrepreneurs continue to face significant barriers, including access to finance and contracts. ‘We often struggle to secure large-scale contracts or financing, limiting our ability to compete with established male-dominated companies,’ she says. That’s in addition to industry bias and perceptions – ‘persistent stereotypes question our capabilities in “heavy” industries, leading to fewer opportunities and slower trust-building with clients’; limited networks and mentorship – ‘many procurement and project opportunities are awarded through networks where we as women are underrepresented, making entry and growth more difficult for our companies’; regulatory and compliance burdens – ‘smaller women-owned companies usually face challenges meeting stringent compliance requirements, which can exclude us from major projects’; and operational challenges.

‘Access to equipment, skilled labour and technical expertise is harder for women entrepreneurs, especially in mining and construction where resources are capital-intensive,’ she says. ‘Hence, we keep fighting for representation and opportunities as women entrepreneurs.’

Intentionally creating representation in construction and mining is vital to break barriers and normalise women’s leadership in industries that shape SA’s economy, says Mothobi. ‘But to make it meaningful, corporate South Africa and government must go beyond compliance, by opening access to finance, awarding high-value contracts and creating mentorship pipelines that empower women entrepreneurs to thrive.’

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