New batch of interns enter retail industry

In order to create a pool of employees adequately qualified and experienced to serve as these credit champions, as well as to equip young people with workplace experience, the partners developed the Building Lives Internship Programme, where Real People host the internship and Retail Relate provides theoretical training

The two organisations are now piloting this programme with the 14 young interns, nine of whom are graduates of Retail Relate's Unemployed Youth Assistance Project. The remaining five are retail students from the University of Johannesburg. Together, the two organisations are aiming to help young graduates to find employment by providing them with the workplace experience that academic studies alone cannot instil.

"The skills, knowledge and especially the workplace experience the learners will gain during this internship will go a long way in preparing them for the world of work and in helping them to make enlightened choices regarding their career path," said Leigh Blochlinger, CEO of Retail Relate.

"In line with our vision of sustainably improving lives, we asked Retail Relate to partner with us in developing an internship training programme relevant to the financial services industry, but also taking into account the fact that our business is very much interwoven with the retail industry,' said Vishal Tilak, head of home improvement finance at Real People.

Real People's business involves providing purpose-specific loans for home improvement. Loans for building and renovating homes can be obtained from its in-store credit consultants in most hardware stores around the country.

The 14 learners will spend the first month of their internships at Real People's head office in Rosebank, where they will gain an overview of the financial services industry. They will also undergo its induction programme to familiarise them with its products, systems and processes.

Thereafter the learners will receive theoretical training in the form of Retail Relate's "Introduction to the world of retailing" skills programme. They will then be deployed to hardware stores where the Real People home improvement loan offering is available, where they will be exposed to real life customer encounters.

After completing the internship programme, which is sponsored by the Bank SETA, the students may be offered permanent positions, provided they meet the necessary selection requirements.

"We are so pleased to be working with a partner that shares our determination to make a positive, immediate and lasting difference in the lives of young South Africans," Blochlinger added.

For more information, go to www.retailrelate.co.za or www.realpeople.co.za.