JSE-listed residential property developer Balwin Properties has launched a dedicated vocational training centre at its Mooikloof Smart City estate, in Pretoria.

The centre will train and skill 300 candidates a year in bricklaying, tiling, electrical work and work-from-height applications, with those who successfully complete a course being awarded a certificate of competency.

The company will also assist in placing qualifying individuals in long-term employment positions with its subcontractors, as Balwin continues to develop environmentally conscious residential estates.

The latest training initiative marks the beginning of a national rollout that aims to help increase critical artisan skills, which Balwin is delivering in partnership with UXI Artisan Development.

The training involves 70% practical experience and 30% classroom theory.

Balwin CEO Steve Brookes says the initiative is aimed at addressing critical skills shortages following the slowdown in the construction sector since Covid-19, as well as empowering the community and ultimately delivering a better product for Balwin customers.  

In future, Balwin intends to transition the training programme to a Red Seal three-year programme, which is a certification of trade competence in designated trades across provinces.

The company engages in various other training initiatives through the Balwin Foundation to empower communities and support professional development, including a recycling youth training programme, which upskills young waste pickers in the Western Cape.

The foundation also supports a programme with the iLembe Chamber of Commerce and Master Builders Association, in KwaZulu-Natal, to train local contractors in business finance, construction management and tendering.

Moreover, Balwin Foundation provides bursaries for studies in various fields such as quantify surveying, finance, marketing, business administration, project management, real estate, IT and health and safety.

The group ultimately promotes the development of knowledge and skills within the construction, property and engineering disciplines.

“Our ambition through the foundation is to unlock opportunity. We call on other sector participants to join us in these growing initiatives. We see the Balwin training centre as a pathway for members from nearby areas to gain real, recognised trade skills, opening doors into the construction economy and ensuring that growth is inclusive,” says Balwin Foundation co-MD Ryan Kalk.

Meanwhile, Mooikloof Smart City, where the training centre is based, is being rolled out in seven phases, with construction on this large-scale mixed use development having started in 2020.

With a project value of more than R84-billion and its plan to have 15 000 apartments, along with schools, sports facilities and retail offerings, the development will catalyse various other developments in the area, including a hospital, a solar farm and a new fire station.

Balwin has completed R205-million worth of infrastructure projects together with government bodies, which have been handed over to the City of Tshwane, as part of the Mooikloof estate’s development.

These projects include R90-million in bulk water upgrades, R35-million in bulk sewer system upgrades, R66-million worth of road upgrades and R14-million of bulk electrical upgrades.

Balwin is now advancing Phase 2 of the Mooikloof Mega City Bulk Infrastructure Works programme at a cost of about R150-million, which will include more of the same kinds of upgrades.

The total Mooikloof Smart City development is expected to generate an infrastructure employment impact worth R513-million and total employment of 1 300 direct and indirect jobs during construction.