Nelson Mandela Bay's Skills Development Desk launch: A step toward closing the skills gap.

Before I begin putting together words to describe this event, I want to remind everyone, the 'Bay of Opportunity' is not just a tagline, but a purpose-driven conversation spearheaded by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. Today, in a room filled with stakeholders from prominent organizations like Eskom, Coega, and Jendamark, it was evident that addressing the mismatch between available skills and vacancies in the city is one of the most pressing challenges requiring an urgent solution. The launch of the Skills Development Desk brings hope to many employers, signaling the beginning of a journey to close this enduring gap.

The Skills Development Desk Launch is a collaborative initiative between Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, ECDC, and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, opened the engagement by highlighting that this initiative is an industry-led decision aimed at ensuring employers are connected with skilled young individuals who meet the labour market demands.

“We partnered with the NMB Business Chamber in this initiative because we know they are one of the organizations that get things done,” said ECDC CEO Ayanda Wakaba. The Eastern Cape province values this partnership, as job creation remains a key priority.

Sebolelo Sybil Chabane, a Skills Advisor for Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, expressed her excitement about the establishment of the Skills Development Desk. She emphasized the significance of this being an industry-led initiative, ensuring that skills development does not occur in a vacuum and it does not become and end in itself. Concluding her talk, Sybil invited employers to engage and participate in this initiative, stating, “We are looking forward to your engagement and participation in this initiative.”

The panel, led by Denise and joined by Kelvin Naidoo - NMB Business Chamber, Acting President, Andiswa Mbatha – Training Manager at Stellantis, and Gideon Smith - Marketing Manager at S4 Integration, discussed the critical technical skills needed in the city to compete on a global scale. They stressed the importance of skills auditing, noting that the current lack of data on available skills leads to hiring mismatches. With new investment opportunities on the horizon, a larger pool of youth with the required skills is essential. AI, robotics, and automation are among the leading industries driving this need. The panelists also expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the need to grow the necessary skills to close existing gaps. “We need to embrace AI, as it helps us to be efficient, and we need to ensure young people from high school can code - to be ready for future opportunities,” suggested Andiswa.

Kelvin Naidoo added, “Training and development for what’s coming next should be our focus, so we do not have to keep coming from behind. As the think tank team, we will ensure the roadmap for matching skills and opportunities is our goal.”

As Nelson Mandela Bay positions itself for business and future investments, it is becoming increasingly important for young people in the city to be curious and proactive about acquiring relevant skills. Preparing themselves to fit into the city’s future economic landscape by offering the required skill sets will enable them to participate meaningfully in the city's growth.

The Bay of Opportunity is indeed opening new doors, and as the city continues to evolve, the importance of initiatives like the Skills Development Desk cannot be overstated. This initiative marks a significant step towards a brighter future for both employers and young people in Nelson Mandela Bay.

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