KUALA LUMPUR: SME Bank is targeting 100 individuals from B40 households for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) under its Zero to Hero 3.0 programme.
The programme aims to improve employability and financial resilience among lower-income communities.
Rolled out in collaboration with Giatmara Sdn Bhd and Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Bhd, it will provide industry-recognised training in welding and metal fabrication, alongside financial education, industry exposure and employment support.
Recognised by Bank Negara Malaysia under its iTEKAD Employment initiative, the Zero to Hero 2.0 will run between 2026 and 2027.
SME Bank chief executive officer Samad Majid Zain said by equipping participants with in-demand technical skills and connecting them with employers, the programme provides a practical pathway towards meaningful and sustainable employment.”
The programme builds on two previous cohorts, which supported 30 participants in 2022 and another 60 in 2024.
All 90 participants secured employment, representing a 100 per cent employment rate.
For the latest cohort, participants are expected to earn monthly salaries ranging from RM1,800 to RM6,000 upon securing employment.
Giatmara will oversee participant selection, deliver competency-based training, facilitate industry certification and coordinate job placements, while monitoring participants’ progress throughout the programme.
Zurich General Takaful will fund the programme, provide participants with one year of takaful protection and deliver practical financial education to help them manage their finances.
Zurich General Takaful chief executive officer Shamsul Azman said; “Creating lasting financial resilience requires more than technical skills, it demands strong partnerships and a shared commitment to empowering individuals for a more secure and brighter future.”
The iTEKAD initiative, introduced by Bank Negara in 2020, has benefited more than 14,000 low-income microentrepreneurs nationwide.
More than RM94 million in social finance funds and about RM77 million in financing and investments have been channelled through the initiative, contributing to the creation of more than 2,400 employment opportunities.
SME Bank said its own iTEKAD Ishraf programme had supported nearly 1,000 asnaf entrepreneurs since 2020, with participants collectively generating about RM40 million in income and creating more than 400 jobs.
The Zero to Hero 3.0 programme also supports the National TVET Policy 2030 and Financial Sector Blueprint 2027-2030.