South Africa is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled tradespeople and therefore graduations from trade apprenticeship programmes are in high demand. A career in trade can offer a secure and well paid future.

An apprenticeship combines workplace and institutional learning in a national qualification. An apprenticeship is based on an agreement between the individual who wants to learn the skill and the employer who needs a skilled worker.

An apprenticeship can last from two to four years, depending on the program. As an apprentice, about 90 per cent of the learner’s time is spent learning practical skills, while being supervised by a qualified tradesperson. The rest is spent learning theoretical and technical aspects of your trade. Over time, the apprenticeship system of training has proven to be one of the world’s most successful ways to learn. (http://www.skillsinnovationhub.co.za)

Apprenticeships are usually limited to technical trades and learners are forced to work out a fixed period of time before they can receive their qualification. Apprenticeships are job orientated, but learners earn a salary while they get an education.