TASA First Job Fair for Toolmaking Apprentices

From Left: Johan Davies; Ron MacLarty;
Leonard Makgamathe; Firoz Cachalia (MEC)

After successfully participating in the Afrimold Conference and Exhibition as a member organisation, TASA is following up this success with a first Reverse Job Fair to be held on be 13th September 2010 at the Kwathema campus in Ekurhuleni.

At the show TASA was extremely encouraged by the visit of the MEC for Economic Development of Gauteng, Mr Firoz Cachalia to the Afrimold exhibition and specifically to the TASA stands. The Gauteng Provincial Administration supports the Gauteng Tooling Initiative, a not for profit company, to revitalise the tool Die and Mould Making Industry in the Province.

The public-private partnership between the TASA is initiative known as the NTIP (National Tooling Initiative Program), the DTI, the Gauteng Provincial Administration and the Gauteng Tooling Initiative has resulted in a successful Toolmaking Apprenticeship Programme being run for the last nine months at the Kwathema and Soweto FET campuses. This PPP Involves Local and National Government, the learning institutions, local industry to create meaningful long-term value adding jobs in the manufacturing industry.

The result of these efforts will culminate in a Reverse Job Fair in which 13 companies from industry will offer the 40 students on the job training opportunities for the next three months. Each toolmaking apprentices candidate is assured of a learnership position in industry. At the job fair each learner will meet with five companies and the companies will each meet with 16 candidates. In this way the candidates can choose what companies as they wish to work for and the companies can meet with the candidates. This ensures the best fit between the company and the candidate.

The participants wish to thank the MEC and the other role players, specifically the industry companies that is participating in this successful venture.

The participating companies are CBI Electric; MA Automotive; Flextech; Conver-Tek; Hayes Lemmerz; Bohler Uddeholm Africa; Zealous Group of Companies; Mechanical Technologies; MLI Tool & Die; Aquajet Profiles; Vijking Foundaries; Fineblanking; NAMPAK.

 

Posted by Henk Snyman