Enhancing competitiveness and enterprise development needs through entrepreneurial skills training for SMEs in the South African Motor Body Repair sector

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of entrepreneurship education as a leverage tool in enhancing both competitiveness and enterprise development within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Motor Body Repair (MBR) sector of the South African automotive industry. An exploratory survey was carried out to ascertain enterprise development needs and competitiveness requirements of these SMEs. The research established that curricula followed in auto body repair training do not consider entrepreneurship education as an important aspect. Major focus of auto body repair training is on repair and replacing of motor vehicle bodywork that would have been damaged in an accident or have suffered from vandalism. The research in addition, established that enterprise development is affected by poor infrastructure, lack of funding, use of poor and old equipment and limited access to markets. Competitive requirements noted were the need for certified multi-skilling training offered by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on new vehicle maintenance technologies, acquisition of recommended repair equipment from Original Equipment Suppliers (OES) and the need to integrate entrepreneurship education in the auto body repair curricula. The implications of entrepreneurship education in the auto body repair curriculum would enhance efficient business and financial management, creativity, innovativeness, marketing and job creation opportunities in the MBR sector. For educators’ entrepreneurship education in engineering would prepare students for the ever changing labour markets and encourage them to create new enterprises of their own rather than being perpetual job seekers