Sanelisiwe Nyandeni, 26, from Qoboqobo village in the Eastern Cape, is making significant strides in her career journey.
A former participant in the Retail Readiness Programme (RRP) and the Youth Employment Service (YES), she is now pursuing a diploma in Retail Business Management at Cape Peninsula University, thanks to a bursary from Shoprite.
Shoprite’s RRP is one of the most successful skills development initiatives by a South African retailer and includes practical in-store training and theory.
Participants receive NQF level 3 qualifications on successful completion and in the last financial year, 4 065 learners were trained, and 1 293 were offered jobs within the Group.
“I was fortunate to work with managers who encouraged me to study further. RRP and YES taught me the important role of retailers and how much work goes on behind the scenes,” says Nyandeni, former RRP and YES participant.
“I am the first person in my family to study at a university. I may have taken a different route to reach my goal, but I’m almost there, and it’s all thanks to Shoprite.”
Sanelisiwe Nyandeni (26), former RRP and YES participant
Level up with Youth Employment Services (YES) training
YES is a business-driven initiative that works with government and labour to build economic pathways for the youth. Students who obtain an RRP qualification can progress to YES, which is a 12-month-long training programme. In the 2023 financial year, the Group invested over R91 million, trained and hired over 2 000 participants.
In 2022, after obtaining a BA degree from North-West University, Dewald Elrick Boer (24) took a chance and pivoted towards a new career path by completing the Group’s RPP and YES training programmes. He was hired as a Store Assistant and five months later took up his current position as Trainee Manager at Shoprite Centre Forum in Pretoria.
“Currently, I’m the only person working in my family, so this opportunity changed my life. The training that Shoprite is giving me is important for my short-term goals and will be useful in the long term as well. I could open my own retail business one day,”says Boer.
Who can apply:
South Africans, aged between 18 – 34 years, who hold a Grade 12 or equivalent qualification can apply online, by sending a WhatsApp to 087 240 5709, or submitting a CV at their nearest Shoprite, Checkers or Usave supermarkets.
Also read: Shoprite Invites High-Achieving Students To Apply For Comprehensive Bursary Programme
