For too long, legacy has meant what we leave behind - a number, a name, a Will. But here at Metropolitan, we believe legacy is more. It’s planting seeds of opportunity. It’s standing by everyday South Africans as they write their futures.

Metropolitan Collective Shapers season four is here. And this time we’re taking it national.

Metropolitan Collective Shapers is a programme that helps you level up your business. We equip you with the skills, opportunities and networks you need to grow, create jobs and build a lasting future for yourself and your community.

What’s new in season four

We're going national and backing businesses in two powerhouse industries:

• Logistics
• Agriculture

How it works

From October 2025 to February 2026, our Collective Shapers will get:

• Personal branding and leadership training
• Business coaching that turns plans into profits
• Market access and national exposure
• Mentorship from industry experts
• A network of like-minded entrepreneurs

Are you ready to level up?

We’re calling all go-getters who are:

• Aged 18-35
• Running an informal or small business in agriculture or logistics
• Hungry to grow, committed to the journey and ready to put in the work

Why youth?

Metropolitan Collective Shapers has a distinct youth focus because we believe that investing in the youth is investing in the future. The data around youth unemployment is a reality, that’s why we believe that activating the collective potential of our youth plants seeds that can grow and scale across communities. By supporting young entrepreneurs to become tomorrow’s employers, we foster economic participation across the nation.

A "Collective Shaper" is an entrepreneur with self-belief and unwavering purpose that drives them to make an impact in their communities and the broader public. Through this social impact platform, we offer our Shapers accredited sector-specific modular programmes, networking and market access opportunities, plus a small cash injection into their business to support growth and long-term sustainability.

Our commitment

We’re proud to be part of our country’s success story. Metropolitan Collective Shapers allows us to drive real change across South Africa.

When you choose Metropolitan funeral and life cover you get peace of mind, knowing your loved ones are taken care of. At the same time, you help us invest in the dreams of young entrepreneurs shaping our country’s future. Speak to a Metropolitan financial adviser and explore our cover options.

This is more than a programme, it’s a movement shaping the next generation of employers, changemakers and leaders.

What we've done

When we launched the Metropolitan Collective Shapers programme after feasibility research and needs’ analysis, we kicked off in Polokwane and helped young entrepreneurs take their passion for farming to new heights. Through a combined technical learning, mentorship and business skills development model, and with ongoing mentoring and market access capacitation, we supported young people who were already active in agriculture, providing them with access and information.