LearnMe Skills Development and Learnership Programmes: Building Skills for Career Success

South Africa’s skills development landscape continues to play an important role in helping businesses build capable workforces while giving learners opportunities to gain recognised workplace skills. LearnMe offers learnerships, skills programmes and occupational skills programmes designed to support employee development and workplace readiness across different sectors.

According to LearnMe, its training services are available to businesses throughout South Africa, with training that can be delivered at the client's workplace. The organisation says it provides fully accredited training and specialises in learnerships and skills programmes.

Follow WhatsApp Channel

What are LearnMe learnerships?

A learnership is a structured, work-based learning programme that combines theoretical knowledge, practical learning and workplace experience and leads to an NQF-registered qualification.

LearnMe explains that its learnership model consists of three main components:

• Knowledge
• Practical training
• Workplace experience

The workplace component allows learners to apply what they have learned in a real working environment, with guidance from a mentor.

LearnMe states that its learnership programmes are managed through the relevant SETA and involve the learner, employer and training provider. The parties enter into a learnership agreement setting out their respective responsibilities.

LearnMe's employed learnership programmes

One of the areas highlighted by LearnMe is employed learnerships.

An employed learnership is designed for people who are already working for a company. Instead of removing employees from the workplace to pursue training elsewhere, the employer can develop its existing workforce through a structured learnership.

LearnMe says these programmes can be presented at workplaces throughout South Africa.

For employers, this can provide an opportunity to:

• Upskill existing employees
• Develop internal talent
• Improve workplace performance
• Align employee development with business objectives
• Support the company's skills development strategy
• Potentially access SETA discretionary funding
• Contribute towards the company's B-BBEE skills development objectives

LearnMe notes that an employed learnership may be funded through a SETA discretionary grant, although funding is subject to the relevant SETA's requirements, available funds and approval. Companies can also fund learnerships themselves.

LearnMe SETA learnerships

LearnMe states that it provides SETA-aligned learnerships and identifies CETA, Services SETA and TETA among the sectors for which it provides accredited training. It also says its programmes can be customised for the construction, transport and services sectors.

This makes the programmes potentially relevant to businesses operating in areas such as:

• Construction
• Transport
• Logistics
• Services
• Business administration
• Management
• Workplace operations

The exact qualifications and programmes available can change, so prospective learners and employers should confirm the current programme list and accreditation status directly with LearnMe.

Skills development programmes

LearnMe also offers skills programmes for businesses that need targeted training rather than a complete qualification.

The organisation describes skills programmes as short, occupationally based learning interventions that can consist of one or more unit standards. Successfully completed components can contribute credits towards an NQF qualification.

Examples mentioned by LearnMe include:

• Business Communication
• Problem-Solving
• Health and Safety
• Business Administration
• Project Management
• Conflict Management
• Mechanical Principles
• Earth-moving specialisation
• Diversity training
• Team building
• HIV training

This type of training can be useful when an employer identifies a specific skills gap that needs to be addressed without putting an employee through a full learnership.

Occupational Skills Programmes

LearnMe has also expanded its offering to include Occupational Skills Programmes aligned with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

The organisation describes these programmes as practical and occupationally directed, with an emphasis on simulation and real-work experience. They can be offered at entry, intermediate and advanced levels.

One programme currently listed by LearnMe is Basic Emergency First Aid Responder (NQF Level 2).

Another is Workplace Preparation (SP-201201) at NQF Level 2, carrying 30 credits. LearnMe says this programme is intended to prepare young and unemployed people for workplace placement and covers areas such as employment, interviews, workplace communication, work ethics, occupational health and safety and workplace responsibilities.

LearnMe and workplace skills development

LearnMe's services extend beyond training delivery. The organisation says its Skills Development Facilitators can assist companies with various aspects of workplace skills development.

These services include:

1. Developing a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP)
2. Submitting the WSP to the relevant SETA
3. Advising on implementation
4. Preparing an Annual Training Report (ATR)
5. Advising on SETA quality-assurance requirements
6. Acting as a link between the employer and SETA
7. Providing guidance on skills-development matters

This can be particularly useful for businesses that need assistance managing their training requirements and SETA-related processes.

Funding opportunities through SETAs

One of the important aspects of learnership and skills-development programmes is the possibility of SETA discretionary funding.

LearnMe explains that discretionary grants can support learning interventions such as:

• Learnerships
• Work Integrated Learning
• Internships
• Bursaries
• Skills programmes

However, funding is not automatically guaranteed. Applications are assessed according to the relevant SETA's funding policies, available funds and other requirements.

Employers interested in funding should therefore plan their skills-development requirements in advance and check the relevant SETA's current funding window and requirements.

Benefits for employers

Learnerships and skills programmes can provide several potential benefits for businesses.

1. Developing internal talent

Instead of relying exclusively on external recruitment, businesses can develop existing employees and build their internal talent pipeline.

2. Improving employee performance

Training can help employees develop the knowledge and practical competencies required for their specific positions.

3. Supporting B-BBEE objectives

LearnMe highlights the relationship between skills development and B-BBEE. Structured training can form part of a company's broader skills-development strategy.

4. Addressing skills gaps

Skills programmes can be designed around specific workplace needs, allowing companies to focus on areas where employees require additional development.

5. Potential access to funding

Where the relevant SETA makes discretionary funding available, qualifying employers may apply for support for approved learning programmes.

Benefits for learners

For learners, work-based training can provide an opportunity to gain more than classroom knowledge.

Depending on the programme, learners can develop:

• Industry-specific knowledge
• Practical workplace skills
• Communication skills
• Teamwork
• Problem-solving
• Workplace safety awareness
• Professional behaviour
• Experience relevant to their occupation

LearnMe says learners who successfully complete the required components and are found competent can receive the relevant NQF-registered qualification.

Learnerships versus skills programmes

Although both are part of skills development, learnerships and skills programmes are not the same.

LearnMe explains that its learnerships generally run for 12 to 24 months, while skills programmes do not have a fixed duration and depend on the learning outcomes being addressed.

Training available across South Africa

LearnMe says it operates as a nationally accredited training provider and has accredited training centres in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, together with affiliated centres in other provinces. It also offers on-site training at workplaces.

This workplace-based approach can be particularly useful for companies that want employees to learn in an environment directly related to their daily responsibilities.

Who can benefit from LearnMe programmes?

LearnMe's training services can potentially benefit:

Businesses: Companies can use learnerships and skills programmes to develop employees and address workplace skills gaps.

Employees: Existing employees can gain additional competencies and work towards recognised qualifications.

Young people: Certain programmes, particularly workplace-preparation and unemployed learnership programmes, are designed to help young people prepare for employment.

Unemployed learners: LearnMe offers unemployed learnership programmes where a company provides the workplace component.

How to enquire about LearnMe programmes

People interested in LearnMe's training opportunities should check the organisation's current programme information and contact LearnMe directly to confirm available programmes, entry requirements, accreditation, funding, application procedures and upcoming intakes.

LearnMe's website also states that it does not accept fees from candidates for learnership or bursary placement.

 Skills Development Learnerships

LearnMe's learnership and skills-development programmes provide a combination of structured learning, practical training and workplace development. Its offerings cover learnerships, skills programmes, occupational skills programmes and skills-development facilitation, with training aimed at businesses and learners across South Africa.

For employers, these programmes can form part of a broader strategy for employee development, skills planning and B-BBEE objectives. For learners, they can provide an opportunity to build practical competencies and work towards recognised qualifications.

Important: Programme availability, funding, accreditation and entry requirements can change. Applicants should verify the specific programme directly with LearnMe before submitting an application.