Sewells Group in JV with NSDC to promote skill development in automotive retail in India

October 1, 2013: The Sewells Group has entered into a partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), India to promote skill development in the automotive retail area.

As part of this partnership, Sewells Group India has floated a 73:27 joint venture with NSDC that will focus on developing skilled manpower for auto dealerships. The JV, called SkillSource Learning and Technologies (SkillSource), will over the next 10 years, open and operate 40 technical training centers across India that will train 400,000 people and deploy them in auto dealerships. These training centers will operate under the National Technical Institute brand name.

The Melbourne-based Sewells Group is a leading provider of training solutions to automotive companies across Asia Pacific, Africa & Middle East Regions and works closely with leading automotive brands. Sewells Group India is a leading provider of automotive training solutions in India.

NSDC is a first-of-its-kind Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in India that facilitates skill development and is not-for-profit company set up by the Ministry of Finance. While the government of India accounts for 49 percent of NSDC equity, the private sector has the balance 51 percent. NSDC acts as a catalyst in skill development by providing funding to enterprises, companies and organisations that provide skill training.

According to Dilip Chenoy, CEO of NSDC, “Looking at the significance of the auto industry in our economy, a skill development effort focussed on this industry will certainly provide rich dividends both from social and economic perspectives. We are excited about this project.”

Sewells Group India CEO Jayesh Jagasia, said: “Skill shortage is a global phenomenon which does not have an easy solution. India can build a huge comparative advantage by focusing on skill development. Getting this right is of immense strategic value to our nation and we are committed to it.”

Himanshu Dhamesha, business head of SkillSource, said, “Automotive dealerships in India are going to require approximately 25 lakh additional people over the next decade or so, with the majority in the front line.”

It may be recollected that on September 16, the Sewells Group had announced that auto industry veteran Michael Boneham has joined its Executive Management Board. The former Ford India president and MD, who will be based in Sydney, will offer strategic guidance to the Sewells Group executive leadership team while they expand their business globally.

Also read: Michael Boneham joins Sewells Group Executive Management Board http://autocarpro.in/contents/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsCategoryID=1&NewsID=2851