As part of its new skills pool strategy, Printing SA is providing member companies with talented individuals who are eager to take up career opportunities in the signage, printing and packaging industry.

According to Steve Thobela, CEO of Printing SA, the official mouthpiece of South Africa’s print and packaging industry, the sector, which is a major contributor to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and includes 1228 printing and packaging companies and 1000 suppliers to those companies, provides jobs for 45 000 people and 31 artisan trades.  

“Government has recognized that South Africa’s economic recovery hinges on re-industrialisation and the growth of a manufacturing sector that can provides jobs, particularly for the large numbers of unemployed young people.

The flip side is that, even though many young people are looking for jobs, very few have the skills that are needed by this segment of industry.

In partnership with the FP&M SETA, Printing SA has been able to enroll 80 learners in its brand new Foundational Learning Programme (FLP) in 2018,” he said.

Graduate learners have now successfully completed three component courses - Foundational Learning Competencies, Introduction to the Printing and Packaging Programme and a Work Readiness Programme.

The last phase of the FLP consists of a three month internship during which learners will gain valuable workplace experience and exposure to the following areas:

• Raw material stores.

• Material handling and material handling equipment.

• Printing or packaging processes.

• Printing or packaging material surface requirements

• Post printing or packaging finishing processes.

• Dispatch.

• Sales, estimating and production planning.

Thobela said that Printing SA would now make these learners available to member companies between 1 October and 14 December 2018 to serve their internships.

Learners will be registered as interns with the FP&M SETA. Member companies will be able to claim BBBEE Skills Development contribution points in two categories i.e. for the number of learners that are placed as interns as well as points towards expenditure for paying stipends to the interns.

In the new year, those FLP Graduate learners who have successfully completed their internships will be made available to member companies via Printing SA’s Regional Chambers for placement in pre-press, printing, print finishing or packaging occupations and trades.

Printing SA has, however, made a commitment to place learners who have not been taken up by industry in a technical theoretical field of high demand to further enhance their employment prospects.