How the Absa Premiership is getting ready to join the movement

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur putting together your first business plan, a student studying for a big test, or a footballer practicing before a big game, we’re all getting ReadytoWork. After noticing the desperate need the youth have to upskill themselves, along with the lack of resources to do so, Absa launched the ReadytoWork intiative.

Today, Absa (a member of Barclays) is using the official launch of the 2016/17 Absa Premiership season to promote awareness and encourage registrations for the free online ReadytoWork curriculum.

The ultimate goal of the ReadytoWork course – which focuses on People Skills, Money Skills, Work Skills and Entrepreneurial Skills – is to improve the employability or self-employability prospects of young people.

Matshepo Majola, General Manager of Group Marketing for Barclays Africa, said: “We are very excited to align our ReadytoWork initiative with the current Absa Premiership season. We will leverage the passion that young people have for soccer to drive awareness about ReadytoWork among fans, academy players at all clubs, the public and, internally, among our colleagues as well.”

“We are encouraging young people to complete the online ReadytoWork curriculum to put themselves in line to win one of four month-long internships at Absa or with our partners during the 2016/17 Absa Premiership season. This will ultimately help to prepare them for the world of work,” she added.

Along with the launch of the local football league, Absa announced three ambassadors to help spread the word about ReadytoWork. Each ambassador embodies the idea of self-improvement and upskilling, and has demonstrated the importance of education and learning at all levels throughout their careers.

Bokang Montjane, Miss South Africa 2010, now a successful businesswoman, will be joined by former Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs great, Jimmy Tau, as well as Sibusiso Ngwenya, founder and head designer of the famous Skinny Sbu Socks, as the three main ReadytoWork ambassadors.

Throughout the campaign, the trio will be making their way around the country, targeting the 16 Absa Premiership clubs’ academies, as well as key tertiary institutions. Bokang, Sibusiso and Jimmy will be looking to inspire the youth and encourage them to invest in their futures.

To register for the ReadytoWork programme, young people can visit the Absa website.