100 ICT students to graduate from learnership programme

“Running a learnership programme of this scale is an incredibly rewarding experience for the Networks Unlimited team,” notes Anton Jacobsz, MD Networks Unlimited. “We've taken a hundred learners who have the academic essentials of system and technical support, and provided a practical environment to apply and develop their skills."

“Through the programme, they attain a national registered qualification, and benefit from a powerful combination of blended skills that has made them into highly attractive employment candidates,” he adds.

The learnership programme is composed of structured learning (four months) and practical work experience (eight months). Ultimately, 50 learners will graduate at the end of June next year with a NQF level 5 certification in systems support, and 50 with a NQF 4 certification in technical support. It rounds out a range of in-house internship programmes run by Networks Unlimited, that give graduates practical experience in areas such as technology, finance, sales, business administration, marketing, and HR.

This level of involvement in skills development is something Jacobsz says has been key to the firm’s 20 years of success: “Positively engaging and enriching the individuals and the communities that surround us is a cornerstone of our business philosophy. Every member of our team understands the broader, highly connected environment in which we work and live. “When considering where to focus our energies, we felt very strongly about creating sustainable skills development initiatives. Our vision for this programme is that with practical qualifications, our candidates can gain immediate employment - and become role models for others within their families, and their communities.”