GAP - THE GRADUATE ASSET PROGRAMME
“BUSINESS-CENTRED SOLUTIONS FOR GRADUATE INTERNS”
The Graduate Asset Programme (GAP) is an initiative designed to put our national assets to work, by
matching capable and motivated graduate interns with SMEs looking for skills.
GAP is driven by a business imperative, ensuring first and foremost that the graduate delivers value to the
host business, which will in turn provide real work experience to these committed, educated young South
Africans who are the future of our country.
The programme aims to start by facilitating the placement of 24,000 graduates over the next 3 years, and to
encourage the successful conversion of 30% of these into longer-term opportunities in approximately 8500
small and medium host businesses.
GAP is driven by a user-friendly, business –focussed matching website, with support and resources available
for business and graduate alike.
Implementing agency Fetola are using a partner-based model to create a powerful, workable solution to the
country’s burning need for Youth unemployment solutions. Capable providers wishing to assist in all aspects
of programme rollout are invited to make contact.
The initiative is made of three distinct parts, namely web-based candidate selection, work readiness training
and Post Placement support. We recognise that businesses growth is the driver of jobs, and therefore all
these elements are supported by a separate fourth element, namely business support (enterprise
development).
1. WEB-BASED CANDIDATE SELECTION
 Job profiling (Business)
 Graduate profiling
 Matchmaking
 Contracts, Job Description, Induction
2. WORK-READINESS TRAINING
 Work Readiness Training (Office readiness, MS Office,
telephone, productivity, etc.)
 Fundamental skills (Driving skills, English for
Business, Business reality)
3. POST PLACEMENT SUPPORT
 Intern Mentor (1 x week, monthly report)
 Employee feedback (monthly)
GAP FUNDAMENTALS
GAP is implemented via partners involved in education, recruitment and business support, providing a
seamless service to host businesses and graduates alike. Online services are free, and further access to
qualified support is facilitated from the website.
Funded by private and Government supporters, the value-added services of GAP are designed to boost the
success of the participating businesses, provide real learning to Graduates and generate significant and
sustainable economic impact countrywide.
The GAP portal (www.gogap.co.za – currently under development) will be a single entry point for host
businesses to find, assess, recruit and support suitable graduate interns.
GAP provides effective & user-friendly matchmaking tools to make selection of interns a seamless process.
The website encourages success through provision of practical tools & resources, FAQs and useful
information for host business and graduates, and a performance monitoring tool to auto-analyse results.
Off-web services include a pilot bridging programme for Eastern Cape graduates – consisting of English for
Business, Driving skills and computer skills.
VALUE PROPOSITION OF GAP
The Graduate Asset Programme is The Right Thing to Do – for businesses, for graduates and for South Africa.
Under the call to action of Let’s get our Country Working, the value it offers is:
The value to the host business from a
graduate intern includes:
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More Hands on deck
Increased energy in the business
Insight into South African society &
new markets (race, culture,
geography)
Risk-free period for selecting potential
long-term recruits
Flexible, Low-cost staffing
Educated, intelligent & fresh thinking.
The value to the Graduate includes
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Real work experience
Personal development and life skills
Training in work-appropriate skills
Improved employability
Potential for long-term placement
The value to partners in the network of GAP
providers includes
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Increased visibility leading to better
sales, profitability & sustainability
Inclusion in national marketing and
promotional campaigns
Access to shared resources and
knowledge
Improved results through association
with a visible, successful initiative
The value to funders and sponsors includes
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Visibility
Changing South Africa’s future
Being part of a national solution
Accessing maximum BEE scorecard
points whilst making a real difference
Creating sustainable jobs without the
burden of employment
BUDGET AND FUNDING
The initial 3-year budget for this programme is R29 million, of which Jobsfund have pledged R8 million
and Old Mutual R1 million.
The shortfall (R 20 million) will be recouped from additional Corporate & Government fundraising, and,
in time, from advertising revenue via the portal.
GAP provides an ideal vehicle for corporates wishing to contribute ED and SED funds, and to those
wishing to be seen, and valued in this space.
GAP stands to be an inclusive, non-partisan and powerful solution to the challenges of graduate
unemployment and SME competitiveness and sustainability in SA.
TIMELINE & NEXT STEPS
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Oct 2012 - Funding received from Jobsfund
Oct – Mar 2013 Planning and partnership development, website
Apr – June 2013 – website testing, launch to Partners & Funders
Apr 2013 onwards – Launch to Business
June 2013 - Launch to Graduate
THE BUSINESS SUPPORT (ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT) PHASE
This supplementary phase falls outside the GAP initiative itself, but is an important component of the
successful growth of small and growing host businesses.
Currently Fetola runs an award-winning business support programme (see www.golegends.co.za ), which
provides this service to 100 companies nationwide. This is ready to scale up, and together with partners
to provide the necessary services to business.
The cost for this programme will be raised through enterprise development grants, and on a “Pay as you
Grow” sliding scale to host businesses.
Services provided to host businesses in this programme:
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Business Training (E-learning & Workshops)
Mentorship & consultants
Networking & Peer to Peer Support
Access to Resources (Market , finance, tools & templates)
The value to the host business of the Business Support Programme (Enterprise Development)
includes
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Increased business confidence
Improved productivity & profitability
Growth
Access to new networks and opportunities
About Fetola
Fetola was launched in order to make a positive difference in South Africa. Our vision ‘to change lives for
the better, forever’ arises from the belief that no-one is fully empowered unless they have the ability to
generate the money they need to live. We see the small business sector, incorporating NGOs and
community-based projects, as the ideal vehicle for the sustainable empowerment of people.