Set-A-Skill Consulting Pty Ltd is a black-owned company that was formed with the vision of becoming a leader in the software development arena of South Africa. The ambition that drives Set-A-Skill is the new spirit of entrepreneurship that South Africa’s political climate is affording young black people. Set-A-Skill Consulting’s global concern for South Africa is the state of unemployment and education. Thus we have found in the SETA arena a complementary industry that addresses those concerns. Our passion to empower people through technology is the key to taking South Africa to the fore of the first world arena.
In Set-A-Skill the ethos of sharing is one of the cornerstones of our success. Hence we have endeavoured to partner with organisations that share this vision. Set-A-Skill was fortunate that at its time of inception we created an alliance with one of the world’s leading consulting firms Deloitte and Touché. The Consortium that was born is a statement of success to the ideals of black empowerment. Over the last eighteen months we have also partnered with Siemens Business Solutions, Sifikile Technology Solutions as well as several young black-owned IT firms like ATS, Intergov, Tauspace, Teknatic and Falcorp.
Set-A-Skill is now in its sixth year of operation and we find ourselves in a position of strength and growth. The Set-A-Skill family has grown from three founding members to presently embodying twenty (20) young vibrant employees. The organisational structure of Set-A-Skill Consulting is made up of two divisions, namely, our Development and Consulting Divisions. Through our various partnerships in the form of teaming agreements and consortia, we have access to approximately thirty-five (35) software developmental staff.
Through the interaction that Set-A-Skill has experienced with Deloitte and Touché, we have learnt and implemented many valuable lessons of management and consulting skills. We have learnt how to foster relationships within our market space. We have enjoyed the insight into the creation and development of products that address markets needs and more critically afford us to deliver to our market products that are beneficial and dynamic.
The birth of the SETA environment has brought many challenges, hopes and expectations for South Africa in understanding the complexities of learning and the realities of the employed and unemployed skill set. In the first years we have had to and still have to align the private sector in their participation of the benefits and the understanding of creating a sustainable and equitable workforce.
As we enter the second term of existence, our global focus in the setas is to “halve unemployment and poverty, and reduce inequality by 2014” (Mdladlana, NSDS Target Speech, 1 March 2005).
The road map to achieving this goal is broken down in five clear objectives, which also form five areas of assessment for success of the setas. They are as follows:
- Prioritising and communicating critical skills for sustainable growth, development and equity
- Promoting and accelerating quality training for all in the workplace
- Promoting employability and sustainable livelihoods through skills development
- Assisting designated groups, including new entrants to participate in accredited work, integrated learning and work-based programmes to acquire critical skills to enter the labour market and self-employment
- Improving the quality and relevance of provision
The SETA’s themselves still need to align their processes internally. Areas that need to be addressed internally are as follows:
- A more efficient exchange in data between SARS, DOL and Setas.
- Secure and reliable data received from SARS, DOL (latest and accurate data pertaining to employer details).
- A faster and accurate communication facility between SETAS and their respective stakeholders internally and externally.
- To allow for proactive and timeous responses to stakeholders (DOL, Board and Employers of the setas’ sector).
- The ability to monitor and assess the progress and attrition of learners and projects timeously.
- An accurate form of assessment and evaluation of training providers (monitoring and controlling delivery and success of training providers and employers performance in the learnership environment).
- The ability to harvest information gathered from various multiple functions within the seta and make informed decisions with the data at one’s disposal.
- Seamless controls to meet the Auditor Generals’ evaluation process.
However, the SETA’s are currently caught between addressing the national question described in the road map and the internal controls outlined above. Set-A-Skill Consulting foremost business ideal is to be the technology enabler and partner of the SETA structures. The experience, the staff that we have assembled and the products we have created serve to that testament.