Cape Town: The new and young City of Cape Town supports skills incubator that opens door for thriving call centre industry. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth – Alderman James Vos launched the city funded Youth Skills and Employment Incubator.
Reportedly, the training programme offers a career path to Capetonians in this thriving business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, which is largely made up of call centres.
Moreover, the project will equip participants with the skills and knowledge required to secure the entry-level roles in contact centres and other BPO functions. The Youth Skills and Employment Incubator is funded by the City of Cape Town and the Department of Labour and administered by CapeBPO which is the industry partner of the city.
Alderman Vos said that BPO has become one of the consistent strongest industries of Cape Town over the past decade. In year 2015, 45,400 people were employed in the sector of the province, considering the majority that was based in Cape Town.
Approx. 100,000 people work in the industry of the city Cape Town, serving domestic and international clients. Furthermore, the estimations for 2015 indicated that BPO contributed around R10.9 billion to the provincial economy. By mid-2024 this has grown to R21 billion in Cape Town alone. Thereafter, the programme will compromise work readiness training with an opportunity for placement into a job.
Considering this, CEO of CapeBPO – Clayton Williams said that the initiative is about more than just jobs, it is about creating sustainable career paths for young people in Cape Town. The BPO sector continues to be a major contributor to employment and economic growth and through this programme that they are ensuring more individuals that have the opportunity to participate in the success story.
The goal is to equip learners with the right skills, connect them with employers and ultimately, transform the lives through meaningful employment.
James Vos also said that through partnership with CapeBPO, they have strengthened Cape Town’s reputation as an ideal destination for companies in the industry and grow. They have also demonstrated the Capetonians who have talent and have mechanisms to nurture and support the talent.
Vos said that he encourages young people who are looking for a job but thinks in long-term about their careers, to sign-up for this exciting opportunity.