BUSINESS AND TRAINING 15
Cannot fault the innovation !
By
Rory Macnamara
Plumbing Africa has written previously about Blulever and visited the Base camp just to see for ourselves what this training company was about .
Having been invited to attend the Impact Expo which was the launch of the inaugural BluLever Campus in Braamfontein , which they did rather differently , as one would expect with BluLever , over a few days with small groups of people from around the artisan and plumbing arena ( Forty people in total ).
To quote the words of the Co-Founders , Jess Roussos and Adan Collier , “ In 2018 , BluLever was born out of a perfect storm of need : a cry for more and better qualified artisans from industry , an ineffectual training system that bleeds money and a swelling population of unemployed and often unemployable youth .”
The selection process to get to the final 30 takes place and those selected begin the three months with Block training ( theory ) and then nine months ‘ on the job training .’ Business owners , who have been shown the ropes and are aware of the expectations from them , volunteer to provide this training .
Finally , the learners are on their way to the full three-year apprenticeship course as required . The preparation for the trade test is also undertaken by the College . PA
Powerful words that so simply express the state of artisans so desperately needed in this country across the spectrum of trades . BluLever is no ordinary training college but delves into the very heart of individuals in their care .
They care about people , they have faith in people , and they have faith in artisans . So much so that their learning philosophy has six core components that make the difference :
• Technical Training that is up to date and in line with world requirements
• Soft skills that are invaluable for any artisan and something that is theirs forever .
• Experience management and treating learning like real education experience , giving people room to grow , and reducing frictions for all stakeholders .
• Fourth Industrial Revolution by providing an understanding of the concept and preparing artisans for the future and that they add value .
• Mindset that is willing and engaged ensuring each artisan continually seeks growth .
• Entrepreneurship that appreciates business skills and innovation required to create value .
OK , so what is different that provides this uniqueness about the college that places them a cut above the rest ?
Firstly , they embrace the whole person . There are something like 1000 youngsters that go through a process of selection all the way through to the final 30 that move into the apprentice programme . That requires skill . It also requires input and involvement from their various partners , namely : Kandua , Harambee , Allan Gray Makers , IOPSA and Chancen . Included are the manufacturers who supply equipment and product for training .
Secondly , the process is that 40 ( from which the 30 will eventually come from ) attend a Leadership Base Camp where the youngsters learn about themselves , teamwork , and all to do with themselves , guided by qualified people .
All photos by BluLever
Robbie Webb and Igsaan Hugo of Lixil
Jess Roussos and Miles Collier of BluLever and Alistair Bach of Ariston
Adam Collier of BluLever , Brendan Reynolds of IOPSA , Jess Roussos of Blulever
April 2022 Volume 28 I Number 2 www . plumbingafrica . co . za