F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 15

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION

AN INCUBATOR IS A PLACE OF BIRTH AND IN OUR CONTEXT A PLACE

OF BIRTH FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. IT IS ONE OF

THE FEW PLACES WHERE THE FUTURE IS ORGANIZED.

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY BASED INCUBATORS HAVE

PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL INSTRUMENTS IN

TRANSFERRING PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE TO

THE MARKET.

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 414

National and international incubator programmes stimulate interaction and exchange of knowledge between tertiary institutions, start-up businesses and industries. Many public knowledge institutions are involved and major governmental investments have been made.

The most successful and internationally accepted process of sustainable Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) development is Business Technology Incubation, which encompasses both technical and business development services. The Furniture Technology Centre Trust (Furntech) has successfully implemented this process for over a decade and this has enabled us to make significant contributions to both the development of the small business sector (wealth creation) and empowerment of entrepreneurs (human resource development).

Furntech, however, is more than just a protected environment for small and emerging entrepreneurs; we are also a professional school for woodworking artisans supported by national and local government stakeholders to empower start up and emerging entrepreneurs who have a project idea or have created their own business. We are recognised and supported by the various spheres of government as an organisation that has the capacity to empower emerging entrepreneurs and artisans as well.

Our Business Technology Incubation (BTI) Programme’s primary goal is to facilitate economic development by improving the entrepreneurial base (of a local area, town, province, country, or sector) through the provision of infrastructure and a variety of business support services. Critical to our BTI model is the provision of coaching and mentoring that includes management guidance, technical assistance and business and entrepreneurial support tailored to the needs of the individual business which is required to move the Individual from an idea or start-up phase to an exit point where the individual operates a formal sustainable business in the open market.

Team Furntech is an important part of the critical success factors of our incubator. We have a combination of youthful managers and managers with expertise in their specific subject matter field and incubation, but also with an entrepreneurial spirit who understand the challenges faced by a small business owner. The success of Furntech over the past 13 years is based on a leadership style that is inclusive and communicative, and lessons learned are freely and openly shared.

Business Incubation as we have learned for more than a decade is a tool that can be the driver to meeting a variety of economic and socioeconomic policy needs, which include amongst others:

Creating jobs and wealth; Poverty alleviation; Fostering a community’s entrepreneurial climate; Diversifying local economies; Building or accelerating growth of local industry clusters; Business creation and retention; and Revitalising local communities and neighbourhoods.

The 2013/14 Financial Year was once again a highly rewarding year for The Furniture Technology Centre Trust (Furntech). Numerous changes in both the internal and external operating and business environments coupled with extremely lofty targets presented a year of challenges for Furntech and in reflection, a monumental effort by the Team has contributed to the organization rising spectacularly to those challenges. The target acquisition rate (comparing achievement to target) for Furntech for the 2013/14 Financial Year is reflected in the graph below:

FURNTECH KPI ACQUISITION RATE FY 2013/14

140%

120%

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

New

SM

ME’

s Cr

eate

d

No

of C

lient

s Su

ppor

tred

No

of S

MM

E’s

Supp

orte

d

% B

lack

Ow

ned

Clie

nts

% W

omen

Ow

ned

Clie

nts

No

of D

irect

Jo

bs C

reat

ed

% G

row

th in

Tu

rnov

er

Com

bine

d Co

re K

PI’s

122%104%

80%100%

63%85%

17%

82%

The results of our successful incubation programme has led to: Wealth Creation Job Creation Increase in the tax base Solutions to societal problems BEE Empowerment. Playing a role in Local Economic Development

Our incubation model is based on an integrated approach of vocational training and business development processes, infrastructure, and people. The flexibility that is built into this model allows us to ensure that our interventions are designed around the specific needs of each client rather that a one size fits all approach. This approach is designed to nurture and protect new and existing small businesses and assisting entrepreneurs with all aspects of starting up and developing their companies into sustainable businesses.

The process promotes entrepreneurship and encourages the formation and development of viable small and micro businesses that are legally compliant. We are particularly successful at assisting emerging enterprises in the second economy to develop into sustainable and employment creating participants in the formal economy.

These are visible through the following initiatives and projects that our clients participated in during the year under review:

Participation at the Global Forum on Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship in East London;

Participation at the AVENG SMME Summit in Cape Town;

5 clients received Technology Transfer Fund grants; Participation at a Furniture Industry Networking

Event during August 2013; Participation at the Insight Exhibition Design Exhibi-

tions at Wembley Square; Participation at the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis

Programme (WISP); Participation at a Cape Town Activa Networking

Event; Participation at the STP Incubation Day; Exhibited at the signing of the Youth Accord in Soweto;

itself during the economical turbulent times and could not have achieved the results without its associations, stakeholders and especially stp as its main funder. Furntech cannot ignore the challenges for its Incubation Programme which includes amongst others:

How do we creatively continue to maintain the SMME growth and employment creation?

How do we continue to expand the programme without diluting our offering?

How do we sustain ourselves to ensure that the programme remains viable and that we can continue to contribute towards wealth and job creation?

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 416

Furntech has fared well in the overall achievement of its Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) for the year and this is reflected in the overall 82% achievement of targets for the year (all KPI’s aggregated). Furntech has exceeded the core key target of New SMME’s established and has also facilitated 9 graduations from the incubation programme over the year under review.

Further key contributors to the achievement of our key performance indicator targets for the year has been the improvement in local and international economic conditions; the persistent and consistent efforts of our Team and the unwavering support of our Board of Trustees in the implementation of innovative and ground breaking support strategies. This has enabled us to improve the quality and development of the clients within our programme which is a major contributor to our success.

Once again, a significant target achievement and indicator for the third consecutive year, has been the growth in Client Turnover. The Total Client Turnover for Furntech for the 2013/14 FY was R10, 5 million; which represents the highest total turnover achieved by the Clients of Furntech since inception.

The graph below illustrates the growth in turnover over the past four financial years.

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 17

Participation at Decorex 2013; Exhibited at the Home Makers Expo; Participation at the Enterprise Development Confe-

rence during April 2013; Attended the Productivity SA Workshop; Participation at an Export Awareness Seminar hosted

by the Mbombela Municipality and the dti; Attended Furniture and Wood Cluster Workshops

hosted by DEDET and the dti; Participation at a DTI Stakeholders Performance

Workshop; Participation at a Red Tape Reduction Workshop

hosted by The DTI and COGTA; Participation at a SEFA Road Show;

In addition to the above: Furntech launched its first Furniture Manufacturing

Testing Centre. Refer to Page 31 for details; Furntech was runner up for Incubator of the Year at

the annual dti Technology award ceremony and our client received the Fastest Growing Incubatee of the Year award;

Furntech again supplied 1000 desks (refurbished or new desks) to 11 schools as part of Mandela Day on 18 July 2013. Refer to page 42 for details

The fourth and last group of our clients participated in the Furntech – Swedish Design programme. Refer to Page 36 for details on this initiative

Our Incubation Programme and processes also continues to benefit from our membership and association with the SEDA Technology Programme (stp), the National Business Incubation Association of America (NBIA), South African Business Technology Incubation Association (SABTIA), the United Kingdom Business Incubation (UKBI), Africa Incubator Network (AIN), INFODEV, and other incubation and business development forums that we participate in.

The achievements of Furntech are; by any standards; absolutely phenomenal HOWEVER Team Furntech, by its very nature and hunger for success, is not satiated. Furntech has also managed to deliver on its mandate and sustained

R15000 000

R10000 000

R5000 000

R0

CLIENT TURNOVER [ PAST 4 YEARS ]

FY 2

010/

11R3

754

746

FY 2

011/

12R6

883

551

FY 2

012/

13R9

569

502

FY 2

013/

14R1

0554

602

FURNTECH WAS RUNNER UP FOR INCUBATOR OF THE YEAR AT THE ANNUAL DTI TECHNOLOGY AWARD CEREMONY AND OUR CLIENT RECEIVED THE FASTEST GROWING INCUBATEE OF THE YEAR AWARD.

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 418

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 19

The following businesses were still participating in the incubation programme at the 31 March 2014:

C A P E T O W N

Name of Business Name of Member/s Business Description No of Employees

Simatule Trust Thamsanqa Hombana Manufacture of Wine Barrels and Wine Barrel Furniture 2

Dumsani Wooodworks Dumisani Bam Kitchen Cupboards, Built in Cupboards, and wardrobes 2

Eco Furniture Design Sue Ann Grahn and Peter Haralambous

Manufacture of Furniture from Recycled Material 10

Living Space Home Improvements Melanie Walker Manufacturer of Quality Wood

Furniture and Kitchen Cupboards 8

Decorise Interiors Tauriq and Ameera Safter Upholstery and Interiors Design 4

Aziz Interior Design Sizakele Mazibuko Designer Furniture and Fittings 2

Indalo Decor Inga Gubeka Designer Craft and Furniture Items 4

D U R B A N

Name of Business Name of Member/s Business Description No of Employees

Elemento Interiors Radiyya Ally Custom Built Furniture and Design 6

Cardomom House Veronica Gwijane Refurbishment of furniture, interior design and upholstered items. 9

1Wood Wrap Doors Mustafa Javari and Faizal Goga Wrap Doors 6

Zebrobah Interiors Jayseelan Moongilan Kitchen Units and Built in Cupboard 2

Davaney’s Antique Restorers Krishna Davaney Restorers of antique furniture and

built in cupboards 2

Glosales Network Niezamoedien Khan Manufacture of Lounge Suites 7

J O H A N N E S B U R G

Name of Business Name of Member/s Business Description No of Employees

V and H Bono Furniture Manufacturers Vincent Makhubele Plasma Stands and Cupboards 7

Top Design Greer Bunting Manufacturing and Installation of Built in Cupboards 2

The Headboard Lady Mando Priscilla Mpete Manufacture of bedroom furniture 4

Houtlander Phillip Hollander Custom Made Furniture 5

AF Doors Anda Fani Door Manufacturing 6

Maloane Art and Décor Maloane Molaba Built in Cupboards 1

Lokuhle Trading Zanele Ntsibande Wooden Doors 1

Limitless Trading Mbali Dlamini General Furniture Making 6

Eye Craft Co-operative Sifiso Mbele General Furniture Making 6

OUR APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO NURTURE AND PROTECT NEW AND EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND ASSISTING ENTREPRENEURS WITH ALL ASPECTS OF STARTING UP AND DEVELOPING THEIR COMPANIES INTO SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES.

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 420

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 21

M T H AT H A

Name of Business Name of Member/s Business Description No of Employees

Chairman Upholsters Edgar Ntlai Upholstery 1

Malihle Trading Manelisi Maqoga Cabinet Making and Roofing 5

Klaushe Manufacturing and Projects Nkosipendula Armstrong Manufacturing household furniture

and upholstered furniture 2

Elamasomi BM Shop fitters Bulelani Mndayi Shop fitting 9

Somsila Services Andile Somsila Upholstery and Motor Trimmings 4

Mthatha Timber Trading Curtis Daniels General Furniture Manufacturing 2

Darfy Worker Co-Operative Lucky Ketso General Furniture Manufacturing 5

Sithembele Mpahlwa Sithembele Mpahlwa General Furniture Manufacturing 1

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 3

N YA N G A

Name of Business Name of Member/s Business Description No of Employees

MQ Furniture Manufacturers Innocent Khanyile Custom Furniture Manufacturing 2

U M Z I M K H U L U

Name of Business Name of Member/s Business Description No of Employees

Nguse Timber Products Siyabulela Ndlovu Coffin Manufacturer 3

Create and Fix Furniture Sibonelo Ngonco Kitchen Furniture/ Wardrobes and

Cabinets 1

Phakamisa Co-Operative Multiple General Furniture Manufacturing 5

KDO Furniture’s Zolani Mbele General Furniture Manufacturing 4

Sizacancan Carpentry Lincoln Jonah General Furniture Manufacturing 1

Buhle Buyeza Furnishers Paulis Ngxabi General Furniture Manufacturing 1

W H I T E R I V E R

Name of Business Name of Member/s Business Description No of Employees

Noah’s Ark Wooden Products Douglas Silubane Manufacture of pivot, stable and

garage doors and window frames. 7

Hey Day Classic Furniture Specialist Alex Khosa Manufacture of solid wood custom

furniture 5

NN Mashego Carpentry Nkosinathi Mashego General Furniture Manufacturing 5

Metiso Woodwork Joinery Nkululeko Metiso General Furniture Manufacturing 3

Isizwe Maintenance and Joinery Sizwe Mashele Manufacture of Wooden Doors 4

Malaba Joinery and Construction Bongani Sibanda Shop fitting 1

Maleez Products (PTY) Ltd Fatima Akoo General Furniture Manufacturing 2

Xigodo Enterprises John Fakude General Furniture Manufacturing 1

THE SUCCESS OF FURNTECH OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS IS BASED ON A LEADERSHIP STYLE THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND COMMUNICATIVE, AND LESSONS LEARNED ARE FREELY AND OPENLY SHARED.

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 23 F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 422

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION

Quantitative 2013/14 FY

# new SMMEs established 22

# new projects initiated 29

# Clients Supported 83

# SMMEs supported 64

% black owned SMMEs established 100%

# Jobs (Direct) created 80

# Jobs (Indirect) created 202

Total SMMEs T/O at start of FY R9 569 502

TOTAL SMMEs T/O AT END OF FY R10 554 602

% growth in SMMEs income (Annualized) 17%

E X T R A C T F R O M F U R N T E C H A N N U A L I M P A C T S U R V E Y

WE ARE RECOGNISED AND SUPPORTED BY THE VARIOUS SPHERES OF GOVERNMENT AS AN ORGANISATION THAT HAS THE CAPACITY TO EMPOWER EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS AND ARTISANS AS WELL.

SUCCESS STORY SUCCESS STORY

V&H Bono Furniture Manufacturers (Pty) LTD

ACHIEVEMENTSRevenue

May - June 2013 – R118 220.00 July - September 2013 – R226 540.00 October - December 2013 –R355 165.00

Employment Figures July 2013 – 9 including the owners

Achievements The business supply Issops Furniture’s

in Gauteng. The business generated a turnover of

R699 925.00 within 8 months in the incubation programme.

The business opened a shop in Pretoria (Miranco Furniture’s) which will be fully operational in 2014

V&H BONO FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS Hendrick RankhododoFurntech Johannesburg Tel: 011 672 2185Cell: 0723838913hendrickrte@gmail.com

V&H Bono is a private company with Vincent Makhubele and Hendrick Rankhododo as the two directors. Vincent has 25 years’ experience while Hendrick has 35 years’ experience in furniture manufacturing. They met while they were working for Roodenfurn Manufacturing. The company they worked for closed down in 2011. Hendrick started buying and selling furniture informally and used some of the clients in the Furntech Incubation Programme. This raised interest in the programme and in 2013 Vincent and Hendrick decided to register a business (V&H Bono). They applied to join the incubation programme and were accepted and started operations in May 2013. Hendrick is very good at marketing and negotiating deals while Vincent on the other hand is strong in production, quality and designs. CHALLENGESSynonymous with other start-ups in the wood and wood products sector, some of the key challenges that the business faced at inception included:

Access to affordable business premises Access to infrastructure such as machinery and equipment Access to capital and business advisory services

INTERVENTIONSFurntech’s Incubation Programme provided V&H Bono with an opportunity to enhance their business in a protected environment by providing a lockable unit, access to a workshop, administrative services, business and technical support.

Support services provided by Furntech included development of a detailed business plan; access to showroom; access to a fully equipped workshop; business and technical mentoring, legal and legislative compliance; network and linkage facilitation. V&H Bono’s product range includes sleigh beds, pedestals, headboards, plasma stands, book shelves and other customized upholstered products.

The two directors are passionate about furniture. One of their key success factors is that quality is not negotiable and this has been filtered down to their employees. This has contributed to growth in the business’ turnover. They started supplying a number of shops including Issops Furniture. Their objective is to achieve and maintain an average turnover of R200 000.00 per month.

“Working with Furntech enabled us to meet our customer needs. When we deliver our products to the customer we want to see a smile, I can guarantee you our customers get value for their money. There are no limits in what we can do” said Vincent

“It’s interesting that I taught Vincent everything that he now knows in furniture. Today I am proud to be co-owning the company with him” said Hendrick

skillsdevelopment

SUCCESS STORY SUCCESS STORY

Thabisa Construction Projects T/A The Headboard Lady

ACHIEVEMENTSRevenue

September 2012 – R 12 500 October 2012 – R126050 November 2012 – R 12 400 January – March 2013 – R 43 960 April – June 2013 – R 149 850 Selected to participate in SASDI

design programme

Employment Figures August 2012 – 4 including the owners

Achievements Business participated in various

exhibitions and women owned entrepreneurship events in Gauteng.

Increase in product range and quality of products.

Achieve highest turnover in Johannesburg centre for June 2013.

THE HEADBOARD LADY Mando Priscilla Mpete Furntech JohannesburgTel: 011 672 2185 • Cell: 072 767 3757mandofurniture@gmail.com

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 424 25

The Headboard Lady is a business which was established by Mando Priscilla Mpete in April 2012 and the business joined the incubation programme in August 2012. Mrs Mpete completed her technical training at a furniture skills centre in Johannesburg and thereafter started to research the establishment of her own business. Armed with the technical skills and with a business plan, the owner then entered the incubation programme. CHALLENGESThe Headboard Lady only had a business plan and was faced with the following challenges that is synonymous with most start-up businesses in the wood and wood products sector:

Access to affordable business premises Access to infrastructure such as machinery and equipment Access to capital and markets

INTERVENTIONSFurntech’s Incubation Programme provided the Headboard Lady with an opportunity to start and develop its business in a protected environment by providing a lockable unit, access to a workshop, administrative services, business and technical support.

Support and services provided by Furntech included the facilitation of marketing mate-rial; access to a fully equipped workshop; business and technical mentoring, legal and legislative compliance; improvement in technical skills; network and linkage facilitation.

The Headboard Lady’s product range includes bedroom furniture such as, ottomans, space savers, customised headboards, bedroom cupboards and any other customized upholstered products.

Mrs Mpete’s good interpersonal skills and drive has resulted in the establishment of good relationships with her target market in Johannesburg. This has resulted in constant increase in the business turnover through referrals and the high quality standards the business offered.

Furntech also increased the network opportunities and facilitated funding for exhi-bitions and marketing material which allowed the business to increase its exposure.

One of the Headboard Lady’s goals for 2013-2014 includes increasing her market share by expanding her business into the hospitality industry.

“I am grateful for the opportunity afforded to do business through the Furntech incubation programme as it afforded me to accelerate the start-up phase of my business” said Mrs Mpete

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 27 F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 426

SkillsDevelopment

PROGRAMME DISTRIBUTION

31% Learnerships

35% Skills Programmes

14% Short Courses

5% RPL

14% Special Projects

1% CNC / AutoCad

THE SPECIFIC YEAR UNDER REVIEW MARKED AN

OPTIMISTIC PERIOD FOR FURNTECH, WHOSE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

FALL UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FURNITURE

TECHNOLOGY CENTRE. THIS NON PROFIT COMPANY

(NPC) IS REGISTERED AND IS THE WHOLLY OWNED

SUBSIDIARY OF THE FURNITURE TECHNOLOGY

CENTRE TRUST.

Sharpening the Axe… Developing Skills for Fighting UnemploymentThe last three years has brought about various changes and proposed changes within the skills development domain in our country. While it is debatable as to whether the changes were good or bad, the factor that is undeniable was the weak implementation of some of government’s strategies in meeting the skills development needs of the nation. Government, through the Department of Higher Education and Training, continued with its focus on the Public Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges. This focus saw enormous amounts of funding being channeled towards upgrading the infrastructure of these Public FET Colleges. Whilst this focus had the potential to make a substantial contribution to skills development in South Africa, it has become clear that the Public FET Colleges still do not possess the technical and knowledge capacity to immediately implement the strategy of government thus there still remains a huge role for the Private FET Sector to fill in the skills sphere.

The specific year under review marked an optimistic period for Furntech, whose skills development activities fall under the auspices of The Furniture Technology Centre. This Non Profit Company (NPC) is registered and is the wholly owned subsidiary of The Furniture Technology Centre Trust. The year saw a 19% increase in the total number of learners trained as compared to the previous financial year. This marks outstanding progress especially when considering that the last 5 years

have been characterised by mainly decreasing rates in the training statistics. The training statistics achieved were buoyed by the increase in the number of partnership based and sponsored training. A key area of concern for this period was the decline in industry based training. The furniture industry continues to remain in a state of debility and the number of companies investing in the development of their staff has reduced significantly. This will remain a key focus area in upcoming periods and together with industry, we will look at strategies to increase the number of industry based learners that undertake training programmes.

Notwithstanding the above, The Furniture Technology Centre continued to address the needs and expectations of its client base and to deliver quality skills development initiatives that in result in employment for those trained and productivity improvement for those who employ them. The Centre is accredited by:

Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Educa-tion and Training Authority (FP & M SETA), who also recognizes us as an Institute of Sectoral and Operational Excellence (ISOE); and

Tibro Training Centre in Sweden

Due to legislative changes the Centre was formally de-registered from the Department of Higher Educa-tion and Training as a Private FET College during 2012/13 and our accreditation falls under the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

We are accredited to provide training and assessment services in South African Qualifications Authority registered qualifications, SETA registered skills programmes and short courses at NQF Levels 1 – 4.

The accredited programmes include: Cabinet making Wood finishing Wood machining Upholstery Coffin making Kitchen units manufacturing and installation Built in cupboards manufacturing and installation Wooden windows, doors, balustrades and staircases

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Incu

bate

es

Indu

stry

B

ased

Lea

rner

s

Oth

er

Lear

ners

42

328

63

TOTAL NUMBER OF LEARNERS - 433

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 428

SkillsDevelopment

F U R N T E C H I N T E G R A T E D A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 29

81% Male

16% Female

GENDER DISTRIBUTION

3% Disabled

RACE DISTRIBUTION

79% Black

13% Coloured

2% Indian

5% White

Programming and operating CNC machines AutoCAD New Venture Creation

The customization of our offerings is based on our capacity to identify the present needs of our clients and to make informed decisions about their future needs. This is evident in a range of courses/special programmes developed and offered in partnership with our clients during the past year, which included, amongst others:

Sonae Novobord 12 unemployed individuals from the White River area

completed training on a programme funded by Sonae Novobord at White River Centre. Upon completion of the Wood Machining Cabinet Making Level 2 programme, a graduation ceremony was held in conjunction with Sonae and the bulk of the candidates joined the Furntech Incubation Programme with the remainder opting to seek employment in the industry.

Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) 50 unemployed individuals completed a Wood

Machining Cabinet Making Level 2 programme at the Johannesburg Centre sponsored by GGDA. Upon

completion of the training, the individuals formed co-operatives and entered the Furntech Incubation Programme.

FP & M Seta Funded Learnerships 30 unemployed youth individuals undertook a

Learnership in Wood Machining Cabinet Making Level 2 which was funded by the FP & M Seta. The programme was carried out at the Umzimkhulu, White River and Mthatha Centres.

Gauteng Economic Propeller (GEP) 40 individuals completed a coffin manufacturing

training programme at the Johannesburg Centre which was sponsored by GEP.

SAFCOL The White River Centre carried out an On the Job

Training Programme for 20 individuals on behalf of SAFCOL at its Timbadola Sawmill in Levubu, Limpopo.

Department of Social Development via Tokoza Progressive Youth Group

10 unemployed youth individuals from the Tokoza Progressive Youth Group commenced an Upholstery Level 2 programme at the Johannesburg Centre which was funded by the Department of Social Development.

OR Tambo Municipality 10 unemployed individuals completed a Wood

Machining Cabinet Making Level 2 programme at the Mthatha Centre which was funded by the OR Tambo Municipality.

Department of Economic Development. Environment and Tourism (DEDET)

10 individuals completed a capacity building training programme at the White River Centre which was funded by DEDET Mpumalanga.

Nigerian Learners Based on the success of training programmes

previously conducted for Nigerian Learners, a

further 50 Nigerian individuals completed a Wood Machining Cabinet Making Level 2 programme at the Durban Centre.

Over and above the aforementioned training, there have been further projects that have been secured and will commence in the new financial year. These include the following:

Transnet An SLA was concluded with Transnet for the training

of 30 individuals at the Johannesburg Centre. These individuals will be identified from the Limpopo area and forms part of the strategy to establish a satellite incubation facility in that region. The training will commence in May 2014.

Sonae Novobord Based on the success of the previous project, Sonae

Novobord have agreed to conduct a similar project during the new financial year. It is expected that a further 10 unemployed individuals will commence training by July 2014.

Winning the Unemployment Battle….This year has seen a concerted skills development effort towards decreasing unemployment in our country. Knowledge through skills is a key factor that can contribute towards improving the lives of the countless unemployed and Furntech, together with its dedicated partners, have made a significant impact on skilling the unskilled and unemployed in order to increase their chances of gaining formal employment.

In keeping with Furntech’s ideal of not merely training just for the sake of training, the bulk of the unemployed individuals that have completed training during the year have been given the opportunity to start and run their own businesses within the nurturing and enabling environment of our Business Technology Incubation Programme. This has contributed significantly towards job and wealth creation and provides enough evidence to indicate that whilst the war against unemployment is not over, we are certainly starting to win the battles…

total numberof learners

433KNOWLEDGE THROUGH SKILLS IS A

KEY FACTOR THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS IMPROVING THE LIVES

OF THE COUNTLESS UNEMPLOYED AND FURNTECH, TOGETHER WITH ITS DEDICATED PARTNERS, HAVE

MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SKILLING THE UNSKILLED

AND UNEMPLOYED IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF

GAINING FORMAL EMPLOYMENT.