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we cannot train on attitude and 90% of the opportunities an SME will encounter will directly relate to
the attitude of the candidate,” says Lea Smith, president of IOPSA.
Ensuring that apprentices know how to work with mentors, and that the workplace mentors know how
to support new recruits is also an essential element in achieving a workplace experience that counts for
something. “We also needed to prepare our teams for a lady plumbing apprentice, especially someone
who is highly motivated to learn and grow,” says Gary Simister, Green Planet Plumbing. Put simply by
Brendan Reynolds, executive director IOPSA, “The industry is in desperate need of well-trained, work-
ready plumbers and as a country we have a dire unemployment challenge. If we can marry these two
criteria, we could really make a meaningful impact in employment for South Africa.”
At the heart of this pilot is the opportunity that opens up for candidates who go on a journey in qualifying
as plumbers, with the additional benefit of igniting their business skills and entrepreneurial traits. Loreal
Raath, Nedbank Insurance, says, “The partnership is vital. We need to be building confidence with the
youth and SME employers alike. This type of collaboration should become a natural way of building our
service in the years to come.”
The collaboration team is inspired with the transparency and structure of the approach, and invite
SMEs to get involved in making a difference to their business and in developing quality skilled
tradesmen and women.
It is important that the relevant Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) explore partnering
in these pilots in an integrated and scaleable manner, and not only in the plumbing sector but also in
developing for example, Loss Adjusters for the insurance sector.
This pilot programme would not have been possible without Nedbank Insurance enabling the
independent facilitation of stakeholders. A big thanks to all involved: Harambee, Green Planet
Plumbing, Plumbing Johannesburg, the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), and programme
facilitator Debbie Donaldson: because YOU’RE worth it!
If you have any queries or would like to contact someone from the programme you can do so through:
[email protected] PA
From left: Lodwick Mulaudzi, plumbing apprentice and Geoffrey Harmuth,
host employer.
August 2019 Volume 25 I Number 6
www.plumbingafrica.co.za