Cold Link Africa January/February 2019 | Page 33

ASSOCIATIONS INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN businesses that cannot employ of Employers (IOE), degree Degree apprenticeships are young people internally, have the apprenticeships, a new education making waves in the United option of sponsoring their salary approach, are becoming Kingdom. Employers, universities, for a year in a small- to medium increasingly relevant in dealing and professional bodies enterprise. with youth unemployment, work together to ensure the combining skills development with youth’s employability through job placement. a programme that combines A young person increases their chance of future employment threefold with only one year of work experience, a CV, and an employment letter, says Tashmia Ismail-Saville, CEO of YES. Therefore, the private sector can contribute significantly to the South African economy by placing youth through the YES programme. “However, companies do take a risk when they employ a young person without any previous work The private sector can contribute significantly to the South African economy by placing youth through the YES programme. experience or skills,” says Jones. employment. Although degree apprenticeships have not reached the South African shores yet, the YES initiative offers a similar opportunity, albeit at a more basic level. In a time of a bellowing youthquake in South Africa, businesses are being offered a chance to make a difference. Training our youth and providing them with on-the-job experience to increase their employability makes commercial sense and will lead to positive social change for Having workplace exposure Jones reiterates, “Degree coupled with quality technical programmes are becoming training reduces this exposure for apprenticeship-based. The status companies. quo is no longer that your kids According to Linda Kromjong, university studies with part-time rush to university and simply step the secretary general of the into a job. Practical skills are International Organisation critical in ensuring job readiness.” South Africa. CLA The youth are the most vulnerable in the skills economy. Most are willing to work, but their opportunities for employment are limited. (Taken at OTTC.) Ilana Koegelenberg QUALITY TRAINING EQUALS BETTER CHANCES OF PLACEMENT COLD LINK AFRICA • January/February 2019 www.coldlinkafrica.co.za 33