Printing SA Annual Report 2024/2025

NATIONAL TRAINING & DEVELOPENT

National Training and Development 2024 Report Introduction

Trade Test Progression Development and piloting of trade test packages for eleven essential trades, including corrugated board machine minder and lithography, advanced towards certification recognition through partnership with NAMB and FP&M SETA. This process is instrumental in establishing formal learner certification and industry recognition. Training Performance and Industry Engagement Regional training schemes reported high success rates across trades like lithography, bindery, and digital printing. Specialised programmes such as Adobe Creative Cloud eLearning courses supported digital design skill enhancement. Industry events, including exhibitions and conferences, facilitated knowledge sharing among over 10,000 participants, fostering industry growth and innovation. Funding, Grants, and Accreditation Discretionary grants totalling close to R4 million supported training delivery, learner placements, and qualification development. Printing SA secured reaccreditation with FP&M SETA and is progressing towards registration as a Skills Development Provider with QCTO, strengthening its capacity to deliver nationally recognized Targeted face-to-face training, such as folding and guillotine operation, demonstrated solid competency acquisition. Industry outreach extended to youth and women empowerment initiatives, notably the Women in Print series, which engaged women across regional events, promoting gender inclusion in leadership and production roles. Participation in the EmpowaYouth Summit further expanded awareness of career opportunities in the manufacturing sector. qualifications and artisan training. Industry and Learner Support

In 2024, Printing SA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering skills development and industry capacity building across the printing, packaging, signage, and visual communication sectors. The organisation implemented a comprehensive array of initiatives aimed at equipping industry professionals with practical and theoretical competencies, promoting inclusivity, and aligning qualifications with national standards to future proof the industry. Program Delivery and Industry Reach Printing SA maintained its extensive portfolio of accredited training programs, delivering over 70 courses covering technical, operational, and administrative skills. These included digital printing, lithography, graphic design, Occupational Health and Safety, and machinery operation such as folding and guillotine machines. Training was accessible through face-to-face, online, and blended learning modalities across regional centres in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. Qualification Development and Accreditation Significant efforts were invested in the development and registration of occupational qualifications aligned with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Key qualifications, including Heatset Rotary Offset Lithography, Coldset Rotary Offset Lithography, and Flexo Plate Mounter , are either approved or in advanced assessment stages. Furthermore, five new qualifications—such as Roll Label Technician and Commercial Digital Printing —are proposed for development with a project budget of R5.5 million, aiming for a 12-month implementation period. This aligns with Building Skills for the Future strategies to elevate industry standards.

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