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Unleashing the SMME capacity through productivity
Some of the graduates with their certificates |
In trying to build a productive capacity and to create an appropriate environment for SMMEs, Productivity SA through its Productive Capacity Building Programme (PCBP), in a partnership with eThekwini Municipality has recently trained women in business on how to be productive entrepreneurs. Eighty women running businesses in manufacturing, construction, tourism, agriculture and hospitality within this municipality have been trained on how to grow their businesses and make them sustainable. The training focused on; establishing and maintaining critical business practices, practically measuring current productivity levels and set achievable targets as well as achieving tangible financial savings resulting from productivity improvement projects. They have also been empowered with critical life skills. |
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Productivity SA’s Executive Director, Dr Yvonne Dladla said the aim of the programme is to build a more sustainable SMME sector and to assist SMME’s to take charge of their future. “This programme is designed in a way that enables SMME learners to acquire critical and scarce productivity competencies needed to compete globally”, she said, adding that “these women entrepreneurs have been given the tools to create wealth and improve the quality of their lives and those of their families - so that they too can make a meaningful contribution to the country’s economic growth. | Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Department of Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Elizabeth Thabethe appealed to the women to learn from solidarity displayed by the 1956 Women, when they marched to the Union buildings. “The focus of the struggle has just shifted from the demand for political rights to economic inclusion and this program aim to address just that as well as economic freedom”, she said. Thabethe further encouraged the graduates to join the South African Women’s Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN). Co-ordinated by the dti, the organisation’s obejective is to ensure that women have access to business opportunities and become part of the mainstream economy.
Productivity SA’s training facilitator, Nathi Mthethwa, said the training given to these women is already having an impact in their businesses. “This intervention has resulted in reduction in wastage; under-utilisation of resources by these SMMEs has also dropped significantly. During the past few weeks, efficiency and utilisation of resources improved by up to 28% for some of these businesses”, concluded Mthethwa.
By Olwetu Gwanya
April 2007
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