Training programmes and skills development are very high on Shoprite’s agenda.
Head of learning and development retail studies at Shoprite Group, Germinah Nyikana says training programmes and skills development are very high on Shoprite’s agenda.
The Shoprite Group has spent more than R700 million over the past five years on extensive retail skills and training programmes to enhance the career options of South Africa’s unskilled and unemployed youth.
“As the country’s largest private sector employer, the Shoprite Group believes that skills development drives its own business and the national economy, and can transform the lives of many of its employees, job-seeking young people and the communities within which we operate.”
She shares this has been divided into training 24,308 people in the group’s own Retail Readiness Programme, providing 1,027 bursaries, and training 5,765 young people over the past three years in the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.
Germinah says that the Shoprite Group offers a number of in-house and external programmes which include short courses, learnership and skills programmes, such as the Retail Readiness and Yes4Youth Programmes.
“The Retail Readiness Programme, comprises five weeks’ practical training in stores and two weeks’ theoretical training to provide youth with the basic skills to work in a retail environment or start their own business. Successful participants receive NQF-level 3 qualifications.
“And the YES programme, which works together with government and labour to build economic pathways for black youth to reduce unemployment, the Shoprite Group has created 5,765 youth work opportunities.”
Germinah adds that the YES participants receive on-the-job training at in-store service departments and upon successful completion of the Retail Readiness and YES programmes, learners are offered the opportunity to join the Shoprite Group, but it is up to graduates to decide if they want to do so.
Who can apply at the Shoprite Retail Varsity?
Germinah explains that the Shoprite Retail Varsity is a registered private further education and training college that provides accredited programmes.
“Unemployed young people, who are between 18-35 years old and are largely from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, qualify for the different programmes,” she says. “The Shoprite Group has ongoing structured intakes for these programmes in line with business needs and operational requirements.”
Information is made available through the recruitment site and social media platforms.
