One of Cape Town’s most exciting mixed-use developments, Conradie Park is opening doors for young people to develop new skills and gain critical experience in the workplace.

The large-scale mixed-use development in Pinelands – where work began in 2019 – is creating over 4,000 new affordable homes served by a retail centre, a town square, a community centre, park and schools. In collaboration with the Western Cape Government, Concor is proud to be part of this R5-billion 22-hectare project designed to foster economic inclusion and provide greater opportunities for wealth distribution, particularly benefitting underprivileged communities.

According to Sakena Parker, Concor’s Community Liaison Officer at Conradie Park, a vital part of this focus is the project’s focus training and youth development initiatives. Parker explains that, in addition to the company’s ongoing training of its own people, it also partners with other organisations to uplift the local skills base.

“We employ learners from the National Youth Service, part of the Expanded Public Works Programme, who are training as apprentices in artisan trades,” she says. “We also give experiential learning opportunities to students in the Western Cape’s Masakh’iSizwe programme, which develops professional skills in the engineering and built environmental fields.”

As an extension of its skills development partnerships, Concor also works with the provincial departments to upskill unemployed youth – exposing them to the opportunities in the construction sector trades. The first intake in 2022 allowed youth to be introduced to fields such as plumbing, plastering, tiling and painting, for instance.

“With many of them coming from challenging backgrounds, this creates a valuable opportunity to find their feet in a sustainable career,” she says. “We even look to include young people who have undergone drug rehabilitation or are ex-convicts – to help them rebuild their lives through a positive career in our sector. This has to be carefully managed, but it is essential to our inclusive approach.”

Concor is also a host employer for students from the Industries Education and Training Institute (IETI), a training provider that shares a commitment to youth empowerment through skills development. The time that IETI learners spend on the Conradie Park site gives them the practical experience they need to gain a well-rounded education in their trades. On-site training for IETI learners began three years ago, and includes carpentry and bricklaying apprentices who really appreciate the experience.

“From the first day I set foot on the Conradie Park site as a first-year learner, I knew I was entering a world of opportunities,” says third-year apprentice Jordan Samuels. “I am still gaining phenomenal insights amongst veteran artisans, engineers and construction and quality managers from the main contractor and subcontractors.”

Samuels highlighted how this immersion in the real world of work deepened her understanding of her theoretical learning. It also allowed an all-encompassing practical experience beyond her own trade as carpenter – engaging in various other tasks such as setting out for brickwork and formwork, casting concrete, transferring levels and quality control. Another carpentry apprentice on site was Ashleigh-Ann Ruiters, who was inspired by her experience at Concor.

“I got to work alongside foreman, site agents, engineers, construction supervisors, quality managers and subcontractors,” says Ruiters. “Not only did I get experience in carpentry but also with all kinds of trades on-site including administrative tasks that form part of running a site.”

Importantly, she highlighted how Concor’s core values – care, trust and teamwork – came through in the support she received.

“These values truly nurture strong relationships, and I found this very helpful on many occasions,” she says, “particularly in getting my on-site exposure for my apprenticeship as required by my logbook.”

Parker emphasises that Concor understands it needs to make a positive contribution to society, and to be useful to humanity – by looking at the bigger picture.

“It’s about the people that we engage, and how we help them to develop the skills and attitudes they need to work safely and responsibly – while making the world a better place,” she says. “This includes mentoring for technical skills as well as behavioural improvements.”

Supplier development also remains an important aspect of upskilling, and Concor’s initiatives have included contractor development training through the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).