Plumbing graduates mark the end of their three-year education journey at graduation ceremony.
From left to right: Mackdonald Nthelebovu, Thando Mtshali, Nirmala Reddy, Brevynn Coetzee, Veronica Ntho, Loreal Raath, Debbie Donaldson, Thabiso Thabane and Hector Ramano. ©Plumbing Africa
Three new plumbing businesses have just entered the playing field. These are owned by graduates who took part in the Nedbank Insurance 360° Plumbing Program, honing their craft over a 3-year period to become qualified plumbers, registered with PIRB. These intrepid young students graduated in a moving and emotional graduation held at Nedbank offices in Sandton on 1 July.
These new plumbers are PIRB licensed, and were also given the opportunity to specialise in solar water heating and heat pump installations. Of the eight students, five took part in the entrepreneurship programme, and six have joined forces to successfully open their own businesses at the end of their studies.
Speaker Loreal Raath, Nedbank Insurance Head of Support Services provided some background to the eight graduates and the different sectors they came from. Some had been unemployed; others had been put forward to the programme by their employers.
Nirmala Reddy, Nedbank Strategy Specialist: Enterprise Development, praised the young graduates for their commitment and dedication to their studies, and the effort that they put into learning new skills. “We support the growth of the economy and the impact that has. Nedbank is a bank that is focused on doing good,” she said.
Debbie Donaldson, from because YOU’RE worth it, the programme manager, detailed the long road the students had to take to get to where they are, including start-up business skills and running a business. She acknowledged IOPSA as a technical partner and the multiple plumbing businesses who supported the graduates in the workplace.
Among the graduates are two young women plumbers who now own and run their own plumbing businesses.
Along with receiving their certificates, the graduates were gifted vouchers to put towards equipment and supplies for their businesses as well as Ariston geysers, presented to them by Ola Tokosi, Key Account Manager with Ariston, which they can make part of their offerings as new business owners.
Congratulations, graduates!
GRADUATES:
Mackdonald Nthelebovu
Thando Mtshali
Veronica Ntho
Hector Ramano
Thabiso Thabane
Sizwe Mkane
Pabalelo Gabriel Chuene
