While existing internship programmes aim to address this issue, their focus on large corporations and government departments often leaves a gap in permanent job creation. These sectors struggle to absorb interns after their programmes and fail to adequately prepare interns for the dynamic small-, medium-, and micro-sized enterprise (SMME) sector, where the future of job creation truly lies.
Statistics indicate that in South Africa, SMMEs with fewer than 50 employees employ 70% of the labour market, while 45% of employees are employed in firms with fewer than 10 employees.
Situated in Nelspruit, Internship Success offers a structured internship programme it believes can bridge the skills gaps between higher education and industry.
Hendrik Janse van Rensburg, CEO of Internship Success, believes that his organisation offers an internship programme that will benefit both businesses and prospective employees.
Internship programme trains skilled and motivated workers
“Our interns emerge better skilled, more motivated, and more productive. Their attitude towards their job and life enables them to achieve targets and take the initiative, driving both personal and professional success.
“We focus on several vital industries: business (marketing, sales, administration, accounting, IT, human resources, stock control, logistics and warehousing), engineering (electrical, plumbing, automotive-mechanic and panel-beating), hospitality, tourism and legal practitioners,” he says.
At Internship Success, the journey for interns begins with the Internship Advantage Induction. This initial phase focuses on equipping interns with essential soft skills and introducing them to the business culture.
Emotional Intelligence (EI) training is designed to address the skills gap between higher education and industry, preparing interns to thrive in the workplace. During this induction, about 20% of the interns may fall out for various reasons, but those who successfully complete it are earmarked and thoroughly prepared for interviews with potential host employers.
Internship Success supports both the interns and the host employers throughout the entire internship process.
Janse van Rensburg says he envisions a future where every organisation in South Africa has an intern, and both the intern and the organisation thrive through the Internship Success programme.
“We empower interns with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to succeed in their careers, while also supporting organisations in South Africa by integrating talented interns into their workforce.
The Internship Success programme has resulted in a high rate of intern employment post-programme, contributing to local economic growth, job creation, and the development of local businesses.
Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism proud of internshop programme
The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) has adopted the Internship Success programme because of its collaboration with universities and TVET colleges to help students secure internships that are crucial for completing their qualifications.
Additionally, KLCBT’s mandate is to support its members, including SMEs, by fostering growth through the employment of interns, as well as focus on meaningful skills development.
This makes KLCBT and Internship Success the ideal fit. Through this partnership, KLCBT is able to support the growth and development of SMEs in the region, and to contribute to the creation of a skilled and employable workforce.
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Linda Grimbeek, CEO of KLCBT, says the Internship Success programme is a great concept and makes a difference as far as job creation and skills development in Mpumalanga are concerned.
“We strongly recommend that our members use Internship Success to the benefit of their businesses. As KLCBT we are also applying for more funds to make it possible to grow the number of interns employed as part of this internship programme,” she says.
She believes that skills development plays a very important role in the alleviation of unemployment.
“Being part of this internship programme is an opportunity for young people to be introduced to the place of work. For many of them who grew up in a very different environment, this is a chance to learn what is expected of employees and how they should behave as part of the workforce,” she says.
She says she is very proud of what the Internship Success programme has achieved in the Lowveld.
For more information on the programme, click here.
