Small businesses form the backbone of South Africa’s economy, but many face a persistent challenge: finding skilled, experienced, affordable workers. There is a practical solution that can benefit both struggling job-seekers and resource-constrained small businesses and here it is: recruiting graduates from credible learnership programmes.

“But we need employees who have some experience!”

Business owners face a catch-22 situation when hiring: they want employees with some practical job experience, but young people cannot gain that experience without first being employed. This circular problem has left countless qualified young South Africans, including those with university degrees, on the sidelines.

Learnerships are designed to solve this conundrum.

Structured learning programmes combine theoretical knowledge with substantial on-the-job work experience, creating a pipeline of job-ready candidates who have already proven themselves in real workplace environments.

When learners complete a programme through a credible training provider, they emerge with both a nationally recognised qualification and hands-on experience. Together, the two directly translate into workplace productivity in a new role.

“But sponsoring learners is unaffordable for SMBs!”

While many small businesses cannot afford to sponsor learners through the full learnership journey, they are perfectly positioned to benefit from the end result. Recruiting learnership graduates offers several compelling advantages for small business talent acquisition:

• Cost-Effective Recruitment: Traditional recruitment methods are expensive for small businesses. Recruitment agencies typically charge 15-25% of an employee’s first-year salary, while recruitment advertising costs add up quickly. But by partnering with trusted learnership providers, small businesses gain access to pre-screened, qualified candidates at a fraction of the cost.
  
  
• Ready-to-Work Talent: Learnership graduates arrive with more than certificates. They bring practical skills honed in real work environments, reducing the training and time-to-productivity burden on small business owners. These young people have already navigated workplace dynamics and etiquette, understood professional expectations, and developed important soft skills.
  
  
• Fresh Perspectives and Energy: Young learnership graduates bring enthusiasm, digital literacy, and fresh approaches to established businesses. They often have current knowledge of consumer behaviour and emerging digital technologies, which can help small businesses to stay competitive and innovative.

“But which learnership providers can I really trust?”

The key to success lies in partnering with reputable learnership providers who maintain rigorous standards. These organisations ensure that graduates have completed comprehensive learnership programmes that balance theoretical learning with substantial practical experience. They serve as quality gatekeepers, screening candidates and providing ongoing support and mentorship that benefits both learners and employers.

Credible learnership training providers also understand the specific needs of different industries and can match graduates with appropriate opportunities. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of successful placements and long-term employment relationships.

“But does the maths make sense for our business?”

For small business owners weighing up their recruitment options, the numbers make sense – even the cost savings from avoiding recruitment agency fees justify hiring learnership graduates. Add to this the reduced training costs, lower turnover rates typically associated with young employees who feel invested in their careers, and the potential for long-term loyalty from workers who got their career (and often life-changing) break with your company!

Moreover, many learnership graduates are eager to prove themselves and often demonstrate high levels of commitment, which translate into better retention rates and workplace culture.

“So you’re saying this is a win-win solution for SMBs?”

Yes. While small businesses may not have the financial resources to sponsor learners through entire learnership programmes, they do possess something equally valuable: the ability to provide meaningful career opportunities for graduates. This creates a powerful partnership model where training providers develop talent and small businesses provide the career pathways that transform education into economic empowerment.

For young South Africans, securing employment with a small business after completing a learnership can be life-changing. It provides the crucial first step into formal employment, offering opportunities to further develop skills, build professional networks, and establish the work history that opens doors to career advancement.

The choice for small businesses is clear: continue struggling with expensive recruitment processes and inexperienced candidates, or tap into a ready supply of qualified, motivated young people who bring both skills and enthusiasm to the workplace.

Let’s talk about it:

@Chane Deneys – chaned@alefbetlearning.com

@Aliecia van Rensburg – alieciar@alefbetlearning.comSA Business School is an accredited learning and development partner. We are known for our professional and customised alignment of Skills Development offerings with clients’ business strategy and people development objectives.