Images above: TableArt and Macassar Pottery were two businesses that participated in the Youth LaunchPad pilot in 2019/20 and have retained the interns they recruited, creating job opportunities for these talented youth.

The CDI is calling for applications from businesses for a new round of its Youth LaunchPad project, a unique programme that places interns in SMMEs in the creative industries to support increased capacity and pave for the way for new job creation.

This represents a great opportunity for business owners nationally to bring in key skills needed into your businesses, in a subsidised manner, which can help you achieve greater sustainability and growth.

The CDI Youth LaunchPad programme places unemployed matriculants and graduates in SMMEs; it supports work readiness, on-the-job and skills development training; as well as supports business owners to develop the systems and HR capacity to manage staff.

The CDI first ran the Youth LaunchPad in 2019/20, which created 149 work-opportunities for youth in 92 businesses.

The CDI is scaling the programme up in 2022 through funding we have received through the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN) Innovation Fund, a component of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention’s (PYEI) National Pathway Management Network (NPMN), a “network of networks” aimed at facilitating the successful transition of young people into and through the labour market. CDI applied for funding from the NPMN Innovation Fund in November last year and has been awarded a contract to implement.

The Department of Employment and Labour is responsible for the National Pathway Management Network, and the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund is the appointed Fund Manager.

The City of Cape Town is a matched funder.

We hope many more businesses will access this opportunity.

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“We understand that small business owners can benefit from additional capacity to support their business goals, but it can be a daunting step to take to employ new staff. The CDI Youth LaunchPad helps businesses manage some of the initial financial risk while providing the business with support to get their human resource management systems in place and provides valuable work experience to local youth.

In a 100% of the cases in our pilot project, the participating youth were able to launch themselves on their career trajectory – whether they were absorbed into the SMME, found another job they were better suited to, started their own business or decided to go study. In turn, the majority of businesses found themselves in a stronger position to increase their business capacity and manage staff.
A win-win all round!"

– Erica Elk, Group CEO, CDI

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"With youth accounting for about 60% of South Africa's unemployed, partnerships such as these are essential if we are to respond effectively to the youth unemployment crisis.

The CDI Youth LaunchPad is consistent with the core aims of the NPMN, which is to pathway unemployed young people into sustainable opportunities while benefitting small businesses in their efforts to contribute to the broader economy." 

– Najwah Allie-Edries, Head of the Jobs Fund

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Business owners can recruit interns for any area of need in their business – including in key areas to assist their growth such as office/business administration, production, and marketing/sales, amongst others.

The CDI Youth LaunchPad project will provide internship opportunities to 200 youth (graduates and matriculants) in all creative industries throughout South Africa. The CDI focus in the first instance will be on craft and design businesses. This internship allows youth to work in a small business for 9-months so that they are able to gain work experience and understand how businesses are run.

As a business owner, you will need to provide a workplace experience opportunity for youth for 9-months. An aim, but not a requirement, of the project is that the intern is absorbed into your business after successfully completing the internship.

We encourage you to apply soon to ensure you don't miss out on the opportunity.

Businesses in all creative industries throughout South Africa are strongly encouraged to apply.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY