SME Bank targets 100 B40 youths for TVET under Zero to Hero 2.0
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.
SME Bank, a leading financial institution, is set to empower 100 young individuals from B40 households through its Zero to Hero 3.0 programme. The initiative, in partnership with Giatmara Sdn Bhd and Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Bhd, aims to enhance employability and financial resilience among the lower-income community. The programme, backed by Bank Negara Malaysia's iTEKAD Employment initiative, will run from 2026 to 2027.
Participants will receive industry-recognized training in welding and metal fabrication, along with financial education, industry exposure, and employment support. This programme builds upon the success of the previous Zero to Hero 2.0, which supported 90 participants between 2022 and 2024, all of whom secured employment with monthly salaries ranging from RM1,800 to RM6,000.
Giatmara Sdn Bhd will manage participant selection, deliver competency-based training, facilitate industry certification, and coordinate job placements. Zurich General Takaful, on the other hand, will fund the programme, provide one year of takaful protection to participants, and deliver practical financial education to help them manage their finances effectively.
The iTEKAD initiative, introduced by Bank Negara in 2020, has already benefited over 14,000 low-income microentrepreneurs, resulting in more than RM94 million in social finance funds and about RM77 million in financing and investments. This has contributed to the creation of more than 2,400 employment opportunities. SME Bank's own iTEKAD Ishraf programme has supported nearly 1,000 asnaf entrepreneurs since 2020, generating about RM40 million in income and creating over 400 jobs.
The Zero to Hero 3.0 programme aligns with the National TVET Policy 2030 and the Financial Sector Blueprint 2027-2030, underscoring the commitment to a more skilled and financially resilient workforce in Malaysia.
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