Accelerated Artisan Training Programme for toolmakers at Northlink College a first for Western Cape.

At the back from left to right: Peter Maans (student),
Eddie Snyders (lecturer) and Ryan Sherry (student).
Middel row from left to right: Martin Batho (Bowler Plastics),
Nico Kirsten (student), Sandra Schmidt (Wingfield Campus Manager),
Riedwaan Roberts (Bowler Plastics) and
Brad Van Reizig (Head of Department: Engineering, Wingfield Campus) .
Front row from left to right: David Van Reizig (student)
and Heinrich Cloete (student).

Due to the skills shortage in South Africa, Northlink College recently partnered with Bowler Plastics to afford five students the opportunity to participate in the new Accelerated Artisan Training Programme (AATP) for toolmakers.

The AATP, funded by MERSETA, is a first for the Western Cape and was spearheaded by Brad Van Reizig, Head of Department: Engineering, at Wingfield campus. “A number of companies were approached and Bowler Plastics immediately responded”, says Van Reizig. Bowler Plastics is a rigid plastic packaging manufacturer, specialising in custom packaging with a high degree of decorating.

Over and above the toolmaking training at the College and recognition of prior learning, these Toolmaking students spend 54 weeks with Bowler Plastics. They learn to manufacture moulds for various products as well as perform plastic injection moulding, forming the end product: the plastic container. These containers can be anything from jars and tubes for creams, to bottles for sauces. Thereafter they complete a trade test at the College, thus, qualifying after 18 months with approximately two years experience. The programme serves as a good financial incentive for companies and is entirely different from the old apprenticeship programmes.

This shortened mode of apprenticeship training is an excellent initiative of the Department of Labour to address the need for skilled artisans especially in the critical skills needs category of which toolmaking has been identified as one of these skills.

According to Riedwaan Roberts, Toolroom Foreman at Bowler Plastics, they envisage this programme to be ongoing for the foreseeable future.

- Ezelle du Plessis