Atlas Copco South Africa – a company that sells compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems – is offering learnership programmes to people with disabilities.

In its most recent initiative, Atlas Copco is hosting 12 learners with disabilities from the Skills Development Corporation (SDC) for a year. Corporate communications manager for Atlas Copco Kathryn Coetzer notes: “Our learnership and internship programmes are leading to fruitful relationship for both the learners and our organisation. The resounding success of the last two internships further motivated this latest learnership opportunity.”

“This time round we wanted to specifically provide entry-level experience to young, unemployed learners with disabilities, as a response to the massive need for skills development within this group.”

This is the first time that the company is hosting such a large number of learners at the same time at its accessible head office in Jet Park, Johannesburg.

“At the end of the twelve-month period the learners will be armed with an NQF Level 3 Learnership in General Management qualification and also have the benefit of a year’s invaluable workplace experience,” she says. Students will also learn about workplace professionalism, computer skills, wellness training and testing; they will also receive guidance from a mentor.

“Our objective is to present well-rounded, confident individuals at the end of the programme. It is a win-win scenario as the learners will lend assistance to Atlas Copco while learning and gaining experience,” Coetzer says. “We are always looking for talent! So, we encourage all our learners to apply for vacancies within Atlas Copco South Africa both during and after their learnership.”

She adds that the previous internships, in 2015 and 2016, saw a number of learners gaining temporary employment after completing their programmes.