The development of business management skills through a youth enterprise development entrepreneurship programme (SAB KickStart).

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has been cited as a powerful weapon in the fight against the increasing unemployment and poverty levels in South Africa (Moodley & Rowe, 2013). The SAB KickStart Programme is a youth entrepreneurial enterprise development programme that assists young business owners in terms of grant funding and business management skills training. As the name suggests the programme is aimed at “KickStarting” early stage businesses into sustainable profit generating, employment creating entities with the ambition of fostering entrepreneurship in South Africa. By identifying the factors that facilitate the development of business management skills will assist in determining the efficacy of such a programme, identify areas that require further development and determine whether the programme is able to meet its objectives. The population of the study comprised of the 2014 “Top 60” youth entrepreneur SAB KickStart participants. Using a questionnaire as the data collection tool results obtained were analysed using descriptive and correlational statistical analysis. Results revealed that the SAB KickStart programme is well suited in developing the relevant business management skills. The factors identified in this study revealed that most participants within the programme were able to translate the teachings and acquired skill development into their business. It can thus be concluded that the SAB KickStart programme is well suited in the development of business management skills to adequately nurture and foster entrepreneurial development in South Africa. The findings from this study proves useful to other similar enterprise development programmes hosted by different companies as it will provide a focussed insight into the factors that are required for business management skill development.