Clicks has been recognised as the 'Best Performing Host Employer' for Student Placements, taking the top spot at the 2022 TVET College Strategic Industry Partnership Awards ahead of TFG in second place and Vodacom in third.

The Best Performing Host Employer Award is given to the host employer who placed the most students for Experiential Learning and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) between 2019 and 2021.

In the past three years, Clicks has provided learning placements for 1 179 TVET graduates, placing them in different roles across store operations, regional and head office departments. On completion of their 18-month internship programme, Clicks provided permanent employment to 433 graduates.

“The WIL programme plays a crucial role in technical and vocational education given that artisans can’t be produced through theory alone and need practical work experience to complement the academic programme and improve their employability,” says Richard Mediroe, Director of Student Development and Support: TVET Branch at the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The WIL programme is intended to benefit 10,000 unemployed TVET college graduates. Mediroe urged businesses to tackle youth unemployment by strengthening efforts to turn every workplace into a training space.

"We place great value on partnerships such as the one Clicks has with TVET Colleges, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training,” says Germinah Nyikana, Clicks HR Executive. “The retail sector, which includes Clicks Group, is one of the largest employers in the country and plays an incredibly important role in job creation given its capacity to provide workplace experience and entry into the job market.”