The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (Chieta) on August 23 announced two technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college initiatives, which are set to stimulate small, medium-sized and microenterprise (SMME) activity and economic opportunities for individuals in the Western and Northern Cape provinces.

In South Africa’s drive to create economic opportunities for the youth and unemployed individuals, it is vital to acknowledge and promote the role of TVET colleges, says Chieta CEO Yershen Pillay.

“TVET colleges are instrumental in providing development opportunities for our youth and opening doors for employment. Together with sector education training authorities (Setas), TVET colleges offer experiential learning opportunities that help learners develop practical skills for a variety of jobs,” he notes.

TVET colleges work with key industry role-players to ensure their courses are responsive to labour market needs, meaning that graduates are well positioned to find employment.

Chieta is launching two initiatives in September in collaboration with two TVET colleges.

In the Western Cape, Chieta will host a small business incubator programme at the False Bay TVET College, where 20 participants will join an Entrepreneurship Business Skills Development Programme which runs for 12 months through the college’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Rapid Incubator.

“The impact of Covid-19 has created a desperate need for emerging SMMEs, youth-owned businesses and informal businesses in the Western Cape to revisit their current traditional business operations.

"The programme will introduce these businesses to practices that are more innovative and technology-driven to sustain their current business operations, as well as increase productivity and competitiveness into the future,” explains Pillay.

The False Bay TVET College, in partnership Chieta, can provide a much-needed lifeline to sustain the informal trade sector to transition to more competitive business operations. The programme has been granted funding of R1-million from Chieta.

Further, in the Northern Cape, Chieta is partnering with the Northern Cape Urban TVET College to conduct a welding skills programme for unemployed individuals. The programme is accredited through the Mechanical Engineering and Related Services Seta, as welding is a skill overlapping many industries.

“We plan to train 80 individuals aged 18 to 35, who will be awarded with certificates for completion and a statement of results stating the unit standards covered and found to be competent on. Chieta's contributions will cover tuition, personal protective equipment and stipends for the duration of the programme,” Pillay notes.