Driving Employability and Job Creation Through Skills Development

In response to South Africa’s ongoing unemployment challenges, a targeted skills development programme implemented by Lulaway Holdings, in partnership with the Department of Employment and Labour, is making meaningful strides toward sustainable job creation. Aligned with the National Development Plan, the initiative focuses on equipping individuals with the skills and opportunities needed to actively participate in the economy.

Empowering Individuals Through Skills Development

At the heart of the programme is a commitment to empowering people through practical, relevant training. The initiative set out to equip at least 70% of previously employed contributors to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) with in-demand skills to support their re-entry into the labour market or enable them to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.

Equally important is the programme’s focus on inclusivity. A minimum of 30% of participants were youth and individuals who had never been employed before—ensuring that opportunities reach those most in need of economic access.

Through the UIF’s Labour Activation Programmes (LAP), the initiative has played a pivotal role in enhancing employability, fostering entrepreneurship, and preserving jobs. These programmes are designed to create clear pathways for beneficiaries to transition into meaningful economic participation after completing their training.

As part of ensuring accountability and impact, the Labour Activation Programmes business unit conducted a monitoring exercise to assess the implementation and outcomes of the Lulaway Holdings project.

Programme Training Streams and Opportunities

To maximise impact, the programme offered diverse, sector-specific training streams that align with industry needs and market demand:

• Security Sector (National Key Point Training): Participants were trained in access control, surveillance, crisis response, and the protection of sensitive information and assets.
• Contact Centre Agents: Training included customer service, complaint resolution, product knowledge, and performance management.
• Merchandising: Participants gained skills in inventory management, product placement, visual merchandising, and store layout design.
• Hospitality: Practical training covered food preparation, kitchen hygiene, and food supply management.
• Broadcasting: Participants were exposed to content creation, radio presenting, and programme planning and production aligned with industry standards.

Additional Employment Opportunities

Beyond the core training streams, the programme also created opportunities in key operational and support roles, including:

• Administrative Roles: Development of office management, coordination, and organisational skills.
• Scooter Riders (Delivery Personnel): Training focused on logistics, efficiency, and last-mile delivery services.
• Cleaners: Emphasis on maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring workplace cleanliness across industries.

Measurable Impact

The programme’s impact has been both significant and measurable. Out of 10,000 funded beneficiaries, an impressive 5,163 individuals successfully secured further employment.

This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of the programme in bridging the gap between skills development and employment. More importantly, it highlights how strategic partnerships and targeted training initiatives can contribute meaningfully to national priorities such as economic growth, job creation, and inclusive development.