ARTICLE BY: Unspecified
PUBLICATION: Isuzu.co.za
The YES initiative is a government-led collaboration with business to create work exposure opportunities for unemployed South Africans between the ages of 18 and 35. Through the Isuzu partnership program candidates will be placed across Isuzu operations as well as KANU, a subsidiary to Isuzu.
Due to expanding operations, Isuzu was able to employ 15% from the previous intake, primarily in the Information Technology and Manufacturing departments. Isuzu remains committed to investing in skills development and education as a strategic business imperative.
Wayne Osborne, Senior Manager Training & Organizational Development says; “This is our third intake of Isuzu YES candidates and I am pleased to say our partnership with Harambee and Engeli Youth Empowerment, who perform recruitment screening and pre-employment training, has been very successful. The program mainly allows for the youth to gain experience and prepare themselves for the working world. What we have observed at Isuzu is that we are also able to use the program as a talent pool from which we search for specific skills sets.”
The harsh reality is that the youth continue to be hard hit by unemployment, the latest official data shows that two out of every three people under the age of 35 is unemployed. Thus, a program such as this one continues to be of great importance, by affording these youth candidates an opportunity to gain skills, develop their career and earn an income.
Isuzu embraces true transformation, Billy Tom, President and CEO of Isuzu, says: “By affording the youth, whom are struggling to secure jobs, an opportunity to gain skills and earn an income – this, for us, is true transformation, not only in the working world, but also that of the economy. By participating in the program, we are also making sure that as a corporate we don’t leave any generation behind. The youth have a huge role to play. In the workspace, youth have the opportunity to not only develop their skills set, but also add value by developing innovative solutions. As corporates, we have the responsibility to create environments conducive to this; we can only have the youth take the world forward by affording them opportunities.”
Isuzu is proud to be part of the 1825 businesses in South Africa offering job opportunities to the youth. The 2022 intake of YES candidates have signed a 12-month contract with the manufacturer.
About YES
The Youth Employment Service (YES) is a pioneering, business-driven initiative, which has partnered with government and labour to tackle South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis and drive youth employability. YES aims to create work experiences for youth at scale by enabling a business to co-creator a future that works. In this process, a business can gain one or two levels upon its B-BBEE scorecard.
YES has already proven itself to be one of the true innovators in South Africa, generating over R4 billion in youth salaries and more than 70,000+ quality work experiences in under three years, all with no government funding. The not-for-profit organisation has had over 1,800 corporate sign-ups since its inception. Find out more at www.yes4youth.co.za. Say YES. It’s a win-win-win for company, country and youth!