Event: YES x BMW Induction
Event Date:
BMW South Africa has created 2,349 work opportunities for black youth, 65% of which are women, after participating in thre Youth Employment Service (YES) programmes so far. This translates into almost R132.5 million in YES Youth salaries being injected into the local economy.
The automotive manufacturing had placed youth both internally in their own structures, and externally through YES implementing partners (IPs). Job placement extends to all nine provinces, with YES youth being employed in areas such as quality management, accounting, communications and finance, or as auto engineers, software developers, sales reps, IT technicians and data analysts.
On the transformative initiative and partnership, YES CEO Ravi Naidoo said, “We have worked with leading businesses to provide quality work experiences for unemployed youth that drive the economy forward. Our partnership with an entity that builds more than just cars for another year, is aligned to our mission.”
The automotive industry is the largest player in South Africa’s manufacturing industry. In 2021, it contributed close to 5% of the country’s annual gross domestic product, and directly employs nearly half a million people both formally and informally.
BMW’s YES placements, while being rooted in the automotive industry, are heavily influenced by technology and green initiatives – both future-facing sectors. “We recognise the deep unemployment crisis in South Africa and understand the importance of youth participation in the economy,” says Naidoo. “We give businesses the opportunity to embrace the innovative mindsets that young people possess, to build future-focused skills to thrive in our economy. I am proud of all our programme participants and look forward to what the year holds for the 2024 cohort.”
Following the signing of the YES CEO pledge at the welcome event, Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa said, “We began a strong partnership with the YES Programme under our commitment to building a better future for our communities and country. I am proud of all the YES Programme students that we have welcomed and worked with so far – they have reinforced the notion that young people hold the key that unlocks great innovation. We look forward to integrating our new cohort across the business and in other sectors and are confident in these individuals’ valuable contributions.
"At BMW Group South Africa, we continue to say YES to youth!”
The automotive manufacturing had placed youth both internally in their own structures, and externally through YES implementing partners (IPs). Job placement extends to all nine provinces, with YES youth being employed in areas such as quality management, accounting, communications and finance, or as auto engineers, software developers, sales reps, IT technicians and data analysts.
On the transformative initiative and partnership, YES CEO Ravi Naidoo said, “We have worked with leading businesses to provide quality work experiences for unemployed youth that drive the economy forward. Our partnership with an entity that builds more than just cars for another year, is aligned to our mission.”
The automotive industry is the largest player in South Africa’s manufacturing industry. In 2021, it contributed close to 5% of the country’s annual gross domestic product, and directly employs nearly half a million people both formally and informally.
BMW’s YES placements, while being rooted in the automotive industry, are heavily influenced by technology and green initiatives – both future-facing sectors. “We recognise the deep unemployment crisis in South Africa and understand the importance of youth participation in the economy,” says Naidoo. “We give businesses the opportunity to embrace the innovative mindsets that young people possess, to build future-focused skills to thrive in our economy. I am proud of all our programme participants and look forward to what the year holds for the 2024 cohort.”
Following the signing of the YES CEO pledge at the welcome event, Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa said, “We began a strong partnership with the YES Programme under our commitment to building a better future for our communities and country. I am proud of all the YES Programme students that we have welcomed and worked with so far – they have reinforced the notion that young people hold the key that unlocks great innovation. We look forward to integrating our new cohort across the business and in other sectors and are confident in these individuals’ valuable contributions.
"At BMW Group South Africa, we continue to say YES to youth!”
Amendment to the Gazette