A LEADING real estate figure has called upon small businesses to band together in order to be able to employ qualified trainers, after being given the green light to do so by the Services Seta.

Charles Alterskye, chairman of the 140 member strong National Referral Network (NRN), said that Seta's support in this regard would allow small independent companies to collectively employ trainers and implement learnerships, fuelling the industry drive to raise standards among sales personnel.

"This is the answer for small companies that are unable to afford to employ full time, accredited trainers on an individual basis," said Alterskye, adding that currently, many small companies were unable to derive the same benefits as the national groupings that could afford to employ trainers.

"All businesses, big and small, have to pay one percent of their turnover in the form of a skills levy to the relevant Seta, which has enabled the government to build up a huge reserve of money over the last few years," he said.

"This money is being used to reimburse companies that create learnerships and employ trainers.

These companies are entitled to claim back a hefty amount of their original contribution, which effectively pays a large portion of their trainer's salary, making it financially viable for them.

The system works extremely well for businesses with multi offices but small, single entities have neither the ongoing demand or financial capacity to do the same," he said.

Alterskye added that he fully supported initiatives that would raise the standards in the industry and accordingly have a positive spin off from the consumer's point of view.

"Market conditions have changed dramatically in the last few years and this, coupled with the fact that there are no barriers to entry in this particular industry, make it imperative that agents all receive good quality, basic training."

Ross Pillay, senior chamber manager for the Services Seta, pledged his full support, provided that the individual members were all registered with the Seta.