NEWS 7
Graduates wait nervously for certificates .
“ Seeing the banners makes it real ,” said graduate Hector Ramano .
“ I am happy for these graduates ,” said Gerrie Botha , training manager at the Institute of Plumbing South Africa ( IOPSA ), a technical partner to the programme . “ It ’ s a good initiative to get training in terms of apprenticeship .”
The graduates received their certificates and were given Ariston gift vouchers to put towards equipment and supplies for their businesses as well as Ariston geysers , presented to them by Ola Tokosi , key account manager with Ariston , which they can make part of their offerings as new business owners .
“ It ’ s a privilege for Ariston to be involved with helping to shape young lives and young plumbing businesses ,” said Tokosi . as a technical partner and the multiple plumbing businesses which supported the graduates in the workplace . When asked for his advice for the graduates to take into the future with them , Botha shared some advice that his own father gave him , “ Get up in the morning , put your work boots on and get to work . The sky is the limit .” PA
GRADUATES : Mackdonald Nthelebovu Thando Mtshali Veronica Ntho Hector Ramano Thabiso Thabane Sizwe Mkane Pabalelo Gabriel Chuene
Speaker Loreal Raath , head of support services at Nedbank Insurance , provided some background to the eight students and the different sectors they came from . Some had been unemployed ; others had been put forward to the programme by their employers .
“ The initiative is part of the bank ' s supplier and enterprise development efforts .”
“ We wanted to give these graduates a platform and to help them obtain skills they wouldn ’ t otherwise have had ,” said Raath . “ They showed so much commitment to keep at it for three years . They trusted the process , and this speaks to the character of these graduates .”
Nirmala Reddy , Nedbank strategy specialist : enterprise development , praised the young graduates for their commitment and dedication to their studies , and the effort that they put into learning new skills . “ We support the growth of the economy and the impact it has . Nedbank is a bank underpinned by our purpose of being money experts who do good ,” she said .
Debbie Donaldson , programme manager of because YOU ’ RE worth it , detailed the long road the students had to take to get to where they are , including learning to run a business . She acknowledged IOPSA
Thando receives her gift voucher from Ola .
September 2024 Volume 30 I Number 7 www . plumbingafrica . co . za