Discretionery Funding

Employers who pay the skills levy can claim cash grants when they provide training. Thse grants can be used to offset learnership costs. Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA’s) may also provide grants for the impletmentation of learnerships. Employers should get in touch with the SETA to which their skills levies are paid to find out if learnership grants are available.

In addition to the 50% of levy, which can be claimed for a workplace skills plan and the annual training report you may apply for a learnership grant from a SETA before you start the learnership.

Tax Allowance

Section 12H of the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 grants an additional tax allowance in respect of recognised learnership agreements entered into by employers. This was introduced to encourage skills development and job creation and to assist businesses by reducing the cost of training.

The Tax Allowance has been extended until 31 March 2022.

What is the Tax Allowance?

For NQF 1-6 you will receive R40 000 on Commencement and R40 000 upon Completion and for NQF 7-10 the amount is R20 000 on Commencement and R20 000 upon Completion of program.

For Disability Allowance on NQF 1-6 you will receive R60 000 on Commencement and R60 000 upon Completion and for NQF 7-10 the amount is R50 000 on Commencement and R50 000 upon Completion of program.

BEE Points

Skills Development is one of the priority elements on the newly revised generic BEE scorecard. 20 Points are available in total with 5 bonus points for employing black learners after completion of the learnership. You could earn 13 points for hosting and employing unemployed, black learners on a learnership and the cost of learnerships will also be added to total training spent, which equals more points available. This also now includes 4 points for training black, disabled employees.

Option 1: Instructor-Led

Reach your full potential through our instructor-led classes combined with interactive lessons, supporting video content, practical assignments and in field experience. We deliver instructor led classes full time, part-time, weekends and onsite.

It is the most widely-used and traditional method for training which delivers face-to-face training. It is highly effective in terms of knowledge retention as there is an individual leading a class of learners who delivers the content to them directly. This session takes place at a specific time and location and can last up to several days.

The benefits of instructor-led classes:

• Easier to adapt
• More social
• Easier to enforce
• A variety of techniques such as role-playing and topic specific exercises can be used to enhance the learning experience

Although instructor-led training dominates the market in terms of use, it is the costlier learning delivery method as it requires an instructor, facilities, equipment, travelling is often required, catering and the learning material.

Option 2: Blended Learning

With the 12-month learnership, we will use a blended learning approach, which is an innovative approach that takes advantage of new technology while recognising the benefits of instructor-led training methods.

This method has originally been created due to the location of specific learners which makes it impossible for them to travel to certain training centres.

Learnfast Training Solutions will facilitate the delivery of the qualification and support learners through a combination of on-site training, online content, video-based facilitation and practical virtual online labs.

The learner will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence of relevant experience, in a prescribed format. The assessor and learner will decide jointly on the most appropriate assessment procedures, subject to the assessment rules of the relevant education training quality assurer.

Learners will benefit from the following support that has been created for blended learning in order to assist them throughout their studies:

• Learning can take place anywhere and at anytime
• Learners set their own pace to complete the learning program based on the time available.
• Learner can expect support via face-to-face mentoring sessions, email or via the support function on the portal
• The learner has access 24/7 to the online resources on the portal
• Each learning program will consist of different individual modules (which might be a combination of one or two unit standards) specifically assigned to each learner.
• The online platform provides the following to each learner:
  1. Individual Login
  2. Course Content | Learner Guide
  3. Videos explaining the content covered within the Learner Guide
  4. Online Self-Assessments after each chapter in order to continue to the next, which also provides immediate results once the assessment has been submitted
  5. Summary Slides
  6. Additional notes / resources
• The portfolio will be submitted via the learning platform which will be assessed and moderated online which will reduce the assessment and moderation timeframe

Employers will benefit from the following:

• The overall cost of learning will be drastically reduced
• No additional accommodation or travelling expenses are associated with this learning option unless mentoring sessions are scheduled
• Increased production in the workplace as there is no need to take days off in order to attend training
• Real-time reporting (results of the self-assessments)
• Essential feedback on the module each learner completes which serves as the progress status
• Payment terms are available in order to afford more learners the opportunity to develop their skills
• After assessment, if not competent, the learners can resubmit an assessment with no additional expense (should it get to the 3^rd assessment, additional costs will apply)

We believe that face-to-face mentoring is still important in order to provide additional support, provide personal attention to the needs of each learner as well as ensure that each learner is on the right level where they are supposed to be (which will assist with detailed progress reporting). We do not pre-schedule our mentorship program dates, but rather work with learners and the employer to arrange the most

Benefits of a Learnership

Benefits to the Learner

• Increase employment opportunities
• Provides easy access to formal learning
• Assists in career-pathing and self-development
• Provides a way to earn a salary while studying
• Gain valuable workplace experience

Benefits to the Employer

• Provides the organization with the opportunity to grown their own talent. It is a more cost-effective way and it produces a much better calibre of people that meet the unique needs of the organisation
• Claim back on your skills development spend.
• Learnership aid in reaching your Employment Equity targets, as it provides previously disadvantaged people and PWDs with the opportunity to improve their work-related competence and obtain qualifications
• Improves your competitiveness by gaining valuable B-BBEE points.
• Provides a meaningful way of learning to your employees as it consists of theoretical and practical components
• Capitalise on the available learnership Tax Break and Employment Tax Incentive which enable your business to benefit from the tax rebate
• Value added to the life of the learner.