Corporate South Africa must play a more active role in developing SME skills if the country is to reduce unemployment and build a sustainable economy, argues Daniel Orelowitz, Managing Director of Training Force, in a recent Engineering News article.
By Daniel Orelowitz – Engineering News
While SMEs contribute significantly to economic growth and job creation, many are held back by a lack of technical and business skills. Orelowitz believes that large companies have a responsibility—not just a moral one, but a strategic one—to help bridge this gap.
“When corporates invest in SME training and development, they strengthen their supply chains and contribute to a more resilient economy,” he writes.
Orelowitz calls for practical collaboration: corporates should support accredited training, mentorship, and learnerships tailored to SME needs—especially in sectors like manufacturing, construction, and logistics.
The payoff? A stronger pipeline of skilled small businesses that can meet the standards of large contracts, drive transformation, and fuel inclusive growth.
