SMMEs get boost to develop jobs

JOHANNESBURG More than 100 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), have been given a much needed boost to develop their entrepreneurial skills and create new jobs in order to curb the high unemployment rate in the country.

In a joint statement, the Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA) and the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) announced the signing of a 36month memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will see the organisations working together to support SMMEs and create new jobs in the country’s growing chemicals sector.

The programme is hosted at UJ’s Johannesburg Business School and Centre for Entrepreneurship and supported by a R5 million grant from CHIETA that is aimed at developing and training SMMEs within the chemicals sector.

Support

Through the MoU, CHIETA and SABS can support all alumni from the Entrepreneurs for Traction programme with testing, certification and training services, ensuring longevity of the programme and growth of small businesses within the chemicals sector.

CHIETA CEO, Yershen Pillay said he was excited to work with a worldclass standard organisation like SABS. “We undoubtedly have a common goal of working towards the growth and transformation of our economy. This will assist us in achieving our mission to facilitate skills development, education and training through innovative solutions for sustainable livelihoods.

“Through this new collaboration, more than 100 SMMEs will be supported to grow their enterprises and create new jobs, thereby helping to address the problem of high unemployment in the country,” said Pillay.