Electricity and Control December 2024

TRANSFORMERS, SUBSTATIONS + CABLES : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

A new training centre for electro-mechanical apprentices

As the largest manufacturer and supplier of electro-­ mechanical equipment in sub-Saharan Africa, ACTOM has opened a new training centre, offering various apprenticeship programmes, at its premises in Germiston, east of Johannesburg. Kobus Swanepoel, Technical Training Manager at Actom Training Centre, highlights that the relocation of the 30-year old training centre to its new and bigger premises enables the facility to make use of new state-of-the-art equipment and provides space for more apprentices per intake. “The training centre is accredited to train apprentices in eight different trades. These are: Mechanical Fitter, Fitter and Turner, Metal Machinist, Tool, Jig and Die Maker, Millwright, Electrician, Boilermaker and Welder,” he says. Swanepoel adds that the new centre is in the process of obtaining its new accreditation from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The centre’s legacy certifi cation expired in November 2024, and it is therefore obliged to apply for accreditation in line with the recently amended occupational qualifications. International recognition “The apprentice programmes we offer are completed over three years and include theoretical, practical and work-based training components. At the end of the training, apprentices must pass a trade test to obtain a Red Seal certificate, which confirms that they will be recognised internationally as arti sans,” Swanepoel says. He says although the Actom Training Centre has not his torically been a trade test centre, the new venue and addi tional space will enable the training centre to do trade testing now internally and it is currently applying for accreditation for this function. “At present, we take in 150 candidates per year. We could accommodate more but we instead want to focus on deliver ing quality training to those enrolled,” Swanepoel says. He notes that when ACTOM initially established the train ing centre, the idea was to train artisans specifically for the company. However, about three years ago, ACTOM expand ed this mandate to extend training to apprentices from other companies. New intakes This year, he says, Actom Training Centre received a grant from a SETA for 50 apprentices and it is also training 38 ap prentices from other companies. These apprentices started their training programme on 1 June. The cohort currently in training includes 32 apprentices from ACTOM divisions, 50 from Actom Training Centre and 38 from other companies. “By training apprentices for the wider industry, we are looking at the bigger picture, using the training centre to de velop skills for the industry and to make a difference in reduc ing the unemployment crisis. Over time this will benefit the broader economy. We are planning to position our training centre as one of the best in the country,” Swanepoel says. “ACTOM has invested a considerable amount of money

ACTOM has opened a new training centre for apprentices training in electro-mechanical skills. to ensure we can produce quality apprentices with sound skills to work in the industry. There are so many unemployed people in South Africa and there is a great need for people to be trained in trade skills. We can make a huge difference in the industry and people’s lives by giving them more opportuni ties,” he says.

For more information visit: www.actom.co.za

DECEMBER 2024 Electricity + Control

27