A new four-week welding initiative, launched on 1 September, aims to bridge the gap between unemployed youth and practical industry experience.
The pilot project, a collaborative effort between AR Jones Engineering and state logistics parastatal Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) Saldanha, has brought together 11 participants aged 18 to 35 from communities across the West Coast for intensive, hands-on training. The initiative stems from a long-standing working relationship between the two entities, with AR Jones Engineering having served as a service provider to Transnet TPT for about five years.
Running throughout September, the skills transfer programme provides trainees with direct mentorship from experienced AR Jones Engineering staff, including Deidre Petersen, Fabian Cedras, and Managing Director Antonio Jones. To support their participation, candidates also receive a stipend for the duration of the course.
For Antonio, the programme represents a crucial step toward potentially opening doors for young people in the engineering sector.
“This is a first-of-its-kind project for us, and its success will determine whether we can repeat and expand it in the future,” says Jones.
“Our main aim is to give unemployed youth direct access to the engineering sector, allowing them to gain first-hand, practical experience that could help open up future employment and development opportunities.”
