R10m skills boost for small firms
David Masango
18 November 2003
About 4 000 levy-paying small, medium and micro enterprises in the transport industry will benefit from a R10-million scheme for staff training and development, under a scheme run by the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA).
These companies operate in the aerospace, forwarding and clearing, freight handling, maritime, rail, road freight, road passenger and taxi sub-sectors of the transport industry.
The scheme forms part of a three-pronged plan developed for SMMEs by the TETA and its partners, the Services SETA and Ntsika, an SMME agency of the department of trade and industry.
TETA chief executive Piet Bothma said the first part of the programme will see about 2 700 SMME owners and their staff receive training in general business skills.
The training will enable the SMMEs gain a basic understanding of the role of business strategy in managing a small business or business unit, to develop a business plan, to grasp
South African Revenue Service and small business legislative requirements, and to manage financial risk.
The second part of TETA's plan builds on general business management skills, particularly for small businesses.
The content of the training also includes tender advice, access to markets, finance and technology, business plan preparation, trade and investment development information, and counselling.
To qualify for the training vouchers, SMMEs must operate in the transport sector, must employ less than 49 people, and must be up to date with skills levy payments, Bothma said.
"To ensure maximum participation, TETA will implement an approval criterion that is fair and sensitive to the dynamics faced by SMMEs in the transport industry," he said.
Although the skills levy was introduced in 2000, few SMMEs have taken advantage of the benefits.
"We hope this voucher scheme will encourage many companies to get involved in the skills development
process," Bothma said.
Source: BuaNews
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