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ABB and small medium enterprises
Posted by Daniel Makhura on 13 July 2017 9:10 AM SAST
ABB supports small meduim enterprises
In the area of supporting small and medium enterprises, ABB
has introduced a number of programmes, which have a strong
element of job creation and the development of technical and
entrepreneurial skills. We have taken steps to encourage
individuals both within and outside of the organisation to start
their own businesses.
Over the past few years, ABB has had a number of successes
in supporting small business development. Our early projects
included: community electrification projects, where we trained
people to install and maintain electrical equipment; outsourcing
to small and medium enterprises and supporting various
education and training-for-employment initiatives in townships.
These projects have helped hundreds of people to gain technical
skills in areas such as single-phase in-house wiring and welding.
Today, the purchasing policy of the company ensures that
small and medium enterprises receive first preference and the
company is continually looking at outsourcing or purchasing
other services that will provide opportunities for previously
disadvantaged people.
ABB’s enterprise development programme now focuses on:
• Lungisa (which means “to fix it” in Nguni Languages),one of
ABB’s flagship projects. The project, which has been running
since 1997, assists in the empowerment of unemployed and
disabled people by helping them to open their own businesses
for the repair of household electrical appliances and welding.
It has given more than 1 000 people throughout the country
the opportunity to earn a living after eight weeks of full-time
training. The course has a very high success rate, with most
graduates being able to earn an income within six months.
Supporting small business programmes to uplift the disabled. The Tswelopele Workshop in Botshabelo, Free State, was started in 1997 as a joint project between ABB and the Association for Disabled People and employs 60 people. The purpose of the workshop is to assist disabled people to create a small business unit that will generate monthly income for its members. The disabled entrepreneurs have been contracted by ABB to assemble components, which are required in various ABB activities.
