Barriers to business
Newly qualified tradespeople may have strong technical skills but limited experience in running a business, managing finances, attracting customers, and understanding the regulatory requirements involved in becoming self-employed. These challenges can create significant barriers to establishing a sustainable business and may prevent talented individuals from turning their skills and qualifications into viable enterprises.
Fostering success
Our Transition to Work programme supports graduates through the first year of building a business or finding work in their chosen trade.
A combination of top-up technical skills training, essential business management training, health and life skills training is combined with a package of mentorship and guidance, ensuring new tradespeople are supported in meeting business challenges head on. Graduates are encouraged to form business groups, with each member contributing to the business, offering peer-to-peer support and collaborative learning.
Graduates seeking formal employment are guided through job finding, writing applications, preparing for interviews and developing confidence.
Financial support
The Transition to Work project provides start-up grants to each business group or solo entrepreneur. These can be invested in working premises, stock and materials, or help with any other costs encountered in the initial stages of starting a business.
Project participants are also introduced to the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) model of managing their money, to save, invest, and borrow for their businesses or to meet personal expenses.
Transition to Work Projects
YAF Masomphenya Transition to Work 2026
Our Transition to Work programme will support 75 graduates of the Masomphenya Vocational Training project as they start building working futures.
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TA Crusade Transition to Work Project 2026
122 young men and women are being supported to make the transition from learning a trade to earning a sustainable income.
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Eliashib Ubuyantashi Transition to Work 2026
The Transition to Work project will deliver training to help recent graduates thrive in today’s working environment.
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SGA Transition to Work Project 2026
Our project is supporting 25 women to build their own Tailoring businesses or use their skills to find formal employment.
Find out moreDonate to support
Help graduates take their next steps into work or business. Your support provides mentoring, practical guidance and skills to help new artisans build confidence and secure their livelihoods.
