In 2019/2020 most ED/ESD Programs claimed to spend R500k to develop one SMME with no cash that goes to the SMME directly. This is the most expensive MBA model we have in the country that is not SAQA accredited and adds very little value to SMMEs.
An ED company that claims to know what they are doing, must actually have the 500k invested as cash in the SMME’s business, hold joint signing powers and or shares, turn that 500k into an asset that pays them and the SMME well.
The biggest challenge for SMMEs is the ability to implement their ideas due to lack of funding and poor administration (systems and controls).
To succeed an SMME must have the entrepreneurial ability and this is not learnt as Entrepreneurship is a talent. What you can teach someone is Intrapreneurship and not Entrepreneurship.
Once you are sure you have an Entrepreneur then give them funding and help them with admin. Learning admin cannot cost them R500k while they still have to employ the people (accountant, administrator) to implement the admin things you teach them.
An Entrepreneur already has a vision and plan (strategy) on how they think they will achieve their vision, if you find yourself having to to teach this then we are not dealing with an entrepreneur. With right talent your role should be to guide and polish.