Wanted: youngsters in our industry

The skills crisis is one of our industry’s greatest challenges. After all, without diesel mechanics, for instance, the wheels of our industry will stop turning. At Charmont Media Global we are doing our level best to address this crisis with a guide called EduTrans – A Guide to Careers in the Wheels Game.

I am hugely proud to tell you that thousands of copies of EduTrans are currently being distributed to schools and educational institutions across South Africa.

Published by Charmont Media Global, publisher of FOCUS, EduTrans provides learners with advice to help them decide on a career; opening the eyes of learners to the plethora of career possibilities in the automotive sector.

It has been made possible thanks to the unfailing support of a number of forward-thinking companies in our sector.

I would specifically like to thank the following companies for their support of EduTrans: ACT Engineering, African Bank, Bandag, Brainwave Careers, Checkpoint, Elite Fibre, Ford Motor Company of South Africa, Foton Trucks SA, Hino South Africa, Irizar, Kanu Commercial Body Construction, Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Peugeot Citroën South Africa, The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa), UD Trucks Southern Africa and Volvo Trucks South Africa. A very special thanks to MAN Truck & Bus South Africa for sponsoring the cover.

Many university and further education and training (FET) options specific to the industry are discussed, as are the availability of bursaries, scholarships, learnerships and training programmes.

EduTrans was introduced in order to alleviate the skills crisis within the wheels game in South Africa. According to the latest Adcorp Employment Index (a monthly survey conducted by JSE-listed human capital management group, Adcorp), there are currently as many as 829 800 unfilled positions for highly skilled workers across a wide range of occupations in South Africa.

Many of these positions apply to the motor and transport sectors, which are also desperately in need of people with hands-on and practical skills – diesel mechanics, for instance.

In fact, the skills shortage has widely been described as one of the single biggest challenges facing the “wheels” sector.

Some of the various careers discussed in EduTrans include those of driving instructor, vehicle technician, motoring journalist, panel beater and road planner.

Significantly, the information contained within the guide is truly practical. For instance, the guide contains essential information on these various professions – advantages, disadvantages, required studies and earning potential.

In addition, for the first time, EduTrans will be available to learners on their mobile devices. In partnership with the Mxit- and Android-based CareerXplora, from the renowned Brainwave Careers, the reach of EduTrans will extend to thousands of more youths.

“The response we have received from educational institutions, thus far, has been fantastic. They are hungry for resources such as EduTrans and we are proud to be able to provide South Africa’s learners with this valuable booklet,” says Tina Monteiro, EduTrans publisher.

Charmont Media Global has a limited number of run-on copies of EduTrans available to FOCUS readers. Please contact Bev Rogers at bev@charmont.co.za should you wish to acquire some copies. Alternatively, view the online flipbook on our website (www.focusontransport.co.za) on our mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play.