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Careers for tomorrow

Career exhibition launches for artisans and technicians.

élancommunications recently launched the myTomorrow Careers Exhibition which is to be held at venues across the country in 2012.

The intention is to make young people aware of the exciting technical careers open to them as an artisan or technician. Focusing on the many trades that school leavers can apply for, élancommunications, together with industry leaders, will provide a platform where learners with technical aptitude can meet with companies and learning institutes to find out about the bursaries, learnerships and training opportunities that are available, and the requirements for these.

The average age of an artisan in South Africa is 45. Industry figures predict the demand for skilled artisans and technicians to be approaching the 30 000 mark, while the need for semi-skilled labour is increasing by more than 20% a year. Meanwhile between 600 000 and 700 000 learners drop out of school at or before grade 9 every year. Often this is because they do not have any direction or information on training, study and career opportunities other than at universities.

élancommunications is looking for companies to partner with them in making a difference. The exhibitor profile will be organisations that offer information, in-house training opportunities, learnerships and bursaries, and have the desire to interact with our youth in order to alleviate the technical skills shortage. These would include learning institutes such as FETs, technikons, universities, colleges, career guidance centres and SETAs as well as sponsors to assist with travel arrangements or financial institutions offering student loans or bursaries for trade schools.

élancommunications will be working closely with the Department of Education for guidance in reaching the right young people. The focus will be on achievers from grades 8 to 11 who have an interest in a technical career but do not have the resources to go any further.

The exhibition will kick off at Nasrec in Johannesburg from 29 May to 1 June and similiar events across the country are planned for August and September. The Minister of Education will be invited to open the Gauteng event.

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