R10-m training incentive awaits Teta members

Qualifications for ships agents available soon KEVIN MAYHEW TEN MILLION rand has been earmarked for smaller forwarding and clearing companies as an incentive to begin employee training to meet the supply chain challenges of the future. The initiative will enable employees of small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the forwarding and clearing and ships agency industries to study specific skills programmes which are part of the National Skills Development Strategy. The new incentives are available to levy-paying members of the Transport Education & Training Authority (TETA). “Sixty to 70% of our levy paying members are SMMEs that are not participating in the programmes which are designed to standardise training and qualifications in the clearing and forwarding and ships agency industries. This provides an opportunity to grow staff to meet the needs of the future,” explains Ingrid Du Buisson, executive officer of the Forwarding & Clearing Chamber of the TETA. Du Buisson says the intention of the initiative is to allow the SMMEs to participate more effectively in skills development and the upliftment of employees by enabling them to study industry specific as well as generic business management skills programmes through service providers that have already been accredited. Qualifications in forwarding and clearing exist, with qualifications for ships agents in the process of being registered and available soon. All programmes are structured to be completed at the convenience of both the employer and employee. The incentives, using a voucher system for continued education, apply to companies employing no more than 49 people, which have registered with the TETA and have paid levies up to date.