Advancing quality apprenticeships through value chain collaboration in South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa – June 30th, 2026

Employers, policymakers, and international organizations convened in Johannesburg this week to explore how quality apprenticeships can help address one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges: the disconnect between high youth unemployment and persistent skills shortages across industry.

The roundtable, Advancing Value‑Chain Quality Apprenticeships in South Africa, was co‑hosted by GAN Global, Bühler Southern Africa, and the International Labour Organization (ILO). It brought together representatives from national institutions, such as the Department of Higher Education and Training and the South African Qualifications Authority, as well as private sector leaders and development partners, including the Swiss Embassy.

Bridging the gap between skills supply and demand

Despite a large and growing youth population across Africa, many young people struggle to access stable and formal employment. At the same time, employers continue to report difficulties in recruiting skilled talent, particularly in technical and operational roles.

“Across the world we see the same paradox: young people seeking opportunities, and employers struggling to find the right skills,” said Kathryn Rowan, Executive Director of GAN Global. “Quality apprenticeships offer a practical way to bridge that gap by combining structured learning with real work experience.”

In South Africa, where youth unemployment remains among the highest globally, strengthening work‑based learning pathways is increasingly seen as essential to improving labor market outcomes and supporting economic growth.

Throughout the discussion, the concept of quality emerged as central to building trust and ensuring impact for both learners and employers. The event drew on the ILO Recommendation 208 on Quality Apprenticeships, adopted in 2023, which provides a global framework for designing effective and high-quality apprenticeship programs.

GAN Global supports employers in translating these principles into practice through tools such as the Guide to Implementing Quality Apprenticeships and ROI Calculator, which help companies design training programs aligned with business needs while understanding costs and returns.

Participants also highlighted the evolving role of the private sector as a key contributor to how skills are defined and developed. Bühler, with a long-standing commitment to vocational training, exemplifies this approach by having embedded apprenticeships into its global talent strategy and continuous local expansion.

“Apprenticeships are part of Bühler’s DNA,” said Irene Mark‑Eisenring, Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Bühler Group. “They allow us to develop future talent while creating real opportunities for young people.”

Why value‑chain approaches matter

A key focus of the roundtable was the potential of value‑chain approaches to scale apprenticeships more effectively. While small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) account for the majority of employment, they often face barriers to participation, including limited capacity, costs, and administrative constraints.

Participants discussed how leading companies can play an important role in supporting their supply chains by sharing standards, tools, and training approaches, and by working collaboratively to reduce constraints for SMEs.

“If apprenticeships are to scale, SMEs have to be part of the solution,” said Kathryn. “And that means designing models that work for them in practice.”

Looking ahead

The event marked an important step toward deeper collaboration. Participants recognized the need to move beyond discussion and towards concrete employer‑led initiatives that can be tested and scaled. GAN Global and the ILO are exploring opportunities to support such effort.

“Today’s conversation is only the beginning,” said Rachael Madziwanyika, CFO and Head of HR at Bühler Southern Africa. “If we want to unlock the potential of South Africa’s young people, we need to focus on creating real pathways into productive employment and that requires collaboration across all partners.”

As industries evolve and skill requirements continue to change, strengthening the link between education and work will remain critical. Quality apprenticeships are increasingly recognized as a key part of that solution.