Anew technical training academy in Cape Town holds promise for apprentices keen to break into the automotive industry.

Imperial Holdings, a major player in South Africa’s automotive market, unveiled the state- of-the-art technical training academy in Bellville, Cape Town, last week.

The academy was opened by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, who said he was very excited about the initiative, particularly in light of a dire need to produce more artisans in South Africa.

“Statistics show that the country has a shortfall of 40 000 qualified artisans against the current production rate of about 13 000 qualified artisans a year,” he said.

According to the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Merseta), there are only about 4 000 apprentices in the motor industry, with 15 000 needed by 2015.

“This academy could not have come at a better time, when the sector is embarking on an aggressive drive to accelerate the production of qualified artisans and a technically skilled labour force,” Nzimande said.

Over R4-million has been invested in the Bellville training workshop, with the latest tools and equipment introduced for each training room.

Since July, the number of registered appren- tices at Imperial’s multitrade Cape Town Aca- demy, which equips young people for careers in the light vehicle, diesel, autotronics and auto- electrical industries, has doubled.

The academy will train over 350 apprentices this year in various related automotive trades. Imperial also trains another 500 apprentices at its Germiston and Wadeville academies in Gauteng.

The numbers of young people wanting to become artisans has fallen off in recent years, sparking a skills crisis. Imperial Automotive Retail division CEO Philip Michaux said motor vehicle sales were increasing, yet the industry was battling with too few apprentices.

He said the average age of a technician was 39, while the average age of a body-repair specialist was 44.

Michaux suggested that apprentices should have results-orientated performance contracts, instead of simply being taken on for four years.

Nzimande said there was a great need to appeal to more young people to get involved in technical skills. His department has declared 2013 as the Year of the Artisan, with the theme ‘It’s cool to be an artisan’.

Imperial CEO Hubert Brody agreed, adding that the company was keen to attract young people to an industry that had changed substantially over the years.

“We need to do more to make our industry sexy. It’s not a dirty, greasy business. It’s a fascinating business. It’s high-tech and heavily focused on electronics.”

Aspiring apprentices need to have achieved 50% in maths and physical science in Grade 12 to get a place at the Imperial Technical Training academies.

Technical Training Academy GM Sean Fenn has spearheaded the rewriting of the existing 20-year-old training materials. This has been done in collaboration with the Barloworld and McCarthy Auto technical training academies, Merseta, Sandown Motor Group and organised labour.

A world-class series of textbooks, which include the latest technology in cars and trucks globally, is to be launched this month.

The academy will also open up the motorcyle and scooter apprenticeship, as well as a forklift apprenticeship early next year.

According to Merseta, there are only 26 regis- tered motorcyle and scooter mechanics in the country.