ED Programme Aims to Create Opportunities for SME’s – Uplifting Businesses through Funding & Specialised Business Development Support
Samsung in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) is running an Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) Service Centre campaign – an extension of last year’s initiative and a call encouraging more suitable, black-owned Service Centre enterprises to apply for participation in the Enterprise Development (ED) programme.
Last year’s campaign was a broad invitation to small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises operating within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Service Centre space to apply for funding. While the ICT category received a sufficient number of applications – there is a need to focus exclusively on Service Centres and encourage more eligible SMEs in this category to participate in this year’s campaign.
The 2026 campaign is trying to increase the number of service centre participants in this ED programme and is now focusing on black-owned SMEs but targeting mainly underserved provinces. It is therefore looking for skilled service centre entrepreneurs with a minimum of three (3) years experience in mobile device and/or consumer electronic repairs. The main aim of this Samsung EEIP ED programme is to assist SMEs to operate suitably funded accredited service centres in an urban or peri-urban area with sufficient retail footprint.
Samsung is well aware of the government’s NDP Vision 2030 (National Development Plan) targets and the critical role that the SME sector can play in job creation in the country. In her keynote address at the JSE SME Rise Capital Matching Initiative conference, the Minister of Small Business Development highlighted that the NDP Vision 2030 has set a target of generating 11 million jobs by 2030, with small businesses projected to account for over 9 million of those employment opportunities.
And, in order for government to achieve its ambitious employment goals – there is a need for such EEIP ED programmes aimed at ensuring sustainable growth of businesses in the SME space that will result in economic growth and lead to job creation.
Nicky Beukes, Samsung EEIP Project Manager said: “As Samsung, we understand the number of challenges that affect the growth of local SME Service Centres in the small to medium-term. This ED programme is there to ensure that we bring positive change to more eligible entrepreneurs with experience in the Service Centre market. As a company, we are committed to enhancing empowerment and ICT entrepreneurship development that will stimulate job creation. Ultimately, the aim of this year’s EEIP Service Centre campaign is to contribute to the growth of the participating service centres that will lead to job creation and economic growth.”
Some of the immediate challenges experienced by these service centre SMEs include competition resulting in reduced volumes as well as vertical integration of operations from big players. In addition, the improved quality of electronics in general – results in longer time-frames before any breakdown thereby reducing the need for repair services provided by service centres.
And, in South Africa, it is a well-known fact that the service centre industry is extremely competitive and it can take a number of years before profitability is reached. The fact is that sustainable volumes are required to ensure future success of the service centres. The funding support from this ED programme can assist service centre entrepreneurs to overcome some of these challenges.
Besides the funding element, successful participation in this year’s service centre campaign means that eligible SMEs can now have access to supply chain processes that can contribute to their repair volumes as well as specialised equipment and access to genuine parts. They also have an opportunity to receive full accreditation from an OEM and these benefits combined – can provide these small and medium enterprises with the ability to compete efficiently.
Beukes emphasised: “By participating in this campaign, you could also be one of the selected entrepreneurs with grant-funding to support operations, receive specialist business development support and have access to Samsung’s service repair network.”
How to Apply
If you are a talented service centre business with growth potential, the opportunity you have been waiting for has arrived. Samsung can help by empowering you to ignite and grow your service centre business. You could receive grant funding to capitalise the business and gain access to specialist business development support services. To learn more about the criteria for qualification as well as information on how to enter, please click on this link – https://www.samsung.com/za/local-programme/ed-programme/
