LEA-BAC entrepreneur training gets first graduates
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday May 6, 2015 15:05
The 17 students were recognised and awarded certificates for outstanding individual contributions in providing and implementing practical business solutions for Small Macro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs).
The programme, which ran for 11 months, saw the students being attached with four LEA-assisted enterprises, where they received practical training. The four companies were Arts and Culture Centre, Sunrise Travel and Tours, Dobi Foods and Dips Motors.
The Programme leader- Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership, Veronica Olafetse said the diagnosis reports from the trainee consultants revealed four common problem areas across the assigned SMMEs.
“We realised that all these SMMEs have inaccurate financial records, insufficient marketing techniques, weak management controls and human resource management issues. We then evaluated these challenges and developed solutions to them,” said Olafetse.
Chief Executive Officer of LEA, Dr. Tebogo Matome noted that the programme has played an important role as their clients have benefited greatly from it and were able to diagnose the enterprise gaps as well as recommendations to close them.
He added that it is through this strategic partnership that they will inculcate the culture of entrepreneurship amongst Batswana, especially the youth who are encouraged to consider enterprise development as an alternative to formal employment.
One of the student consultants who participated in the programme, Khumo Tau said that the experience was exciting and challenging as they were eager to prove themselves.
“Professionally, we gained necessary skills that are needed in the market. When we started we were naïve, but now we walk away mature as aspiring consultants. We believe when we provide SMMEs with necessary skills and capacity, they can contribute to the economy of our country,” said Tau.
One of the beneficiaries, Manyakile Raphalane of Dips Motors, praised the programme, saying through their help, they managed to register with Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS). In turn, he disclosed, BOBS helped them with quality management of their products. She pointed out that the students managed to help them secure more funding at CEDA for their expansion plans as the business plan they did for them was approved.
BAC Executive Director, Michael Lesolle advised SMMEs that they need to understand that everything starts small and hence they should exercise patience.
BAC and LEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding last year in February, which capitalised on synergies of the two organisations.
The partnership falls within BAC’s wider community engagement strategy and signifies the institution’s recognition to forge strong ties with industry in order to expose students to industry experience and enhance their employability.