Africa Skills
Africa Skills is a South African private vocational training college operating seven campuses under a 70/30 workplace-integrated learning model, delivering QCTO-accredited artisan, agriculture, and business qualifications to individual learners and corporate clients since 2006.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersGeorge, South Africa
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Africa Skills does
Africa Skills is a South African private vocational training college founded in 2006 in George, Western Cape, and now part of the UXI Artisan Development Group. It delivers accredited occupational qualifications across three faculties — Artisan Trades (Electrician, Plumber, Millwright, Welder, Diesel Mechanic, Boilermaker, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Automotive Mechanic, Solar PV Technician, Heat Pump Installer), Agriculture, and Business (Marketing Coordinator, Project Management, Generic Management, Office Administration) — via a 70/30 workplace-integrated learning model where 70% of training occurs on host-employer sites and 30% in classroom/workshop settings. The institution operates seven campuses across Western Cape, Gauteng, and Northern Cape (GeorgeTech, Centurion, Pofadder, Randburg Business, EBDA, VereenigingTech, George Ntaka), and is accredited by QCTO plus 15+ SETAs (MERSETA, AGRISETA, CETA, EWSETA, WRSETA, ICB, MICTSETA, LG SETA, MQA, Service SETA, TETA, HWSETA, FP&M SETA, INSETA, Cathsseta), enabling nationally recognised NQF qualifications and access to Skills Development Levy grants.
Revenue is generated from four streams: individual learner tuition (subscription-style monthly instalments, e.g., R3,000 deposit + 12 monthly payments of R1,000 for a Marketing Coordinator qualification), corporate Business Solutions (WSP/ATR submissions, Employment Tax Incentive administration, B-BBEE compliance, R80,000 per-learner tax rebate management, discretionary grants), SETA funding and Skills Development Levy reimbursements, and the Adopt an Artisan donation/partnership programme routed through Life Changing Properties NPC with Section 18A tax certificates. Go-to-market combines a direct-to-consumer website application funnel, school visits and community events, an enterprise field-sales motion for corporate clients, and event-driven recruitment through events. The company reports 10,000+ learners trained since 2006 and an 85% graduate employment rate, with no disclosed revenue figures.
The business is privately held, directed by E.M Harmse, P.J Harmse, R. Meeske, and N.C Tattersall. Recent strategic activity includes the 2024 opening of the Pofadder Campus in the Northern Cape and the 2026 acquisition of the former Telkom Learning Campus by parent group UXI Artisan Development, signalling an active expansion posture across both organic greenfield and inorganic channels.
Africa Skills firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Africa Skills
- Legal name
- Africa Skills
- Website
- https://africaskills.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Africa Skills is a South African private vocational training college operating seven campuses under a 70/30 workplace-integrated learning model, delivering QCTO-accredited artisan, agriculture, and business qualifications to individual learners and corporate clients since 2006.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Africa Skills industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Training and Skills Development
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL)
Keywords
Where Africa Skills is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- George
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices7 records
Markets served
Africa Skills business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Learner Tuition and Course Fees: Fees paid by individual students for vocational qualifications across trades, agriculture, and business programmes. Structured payment plans available including deposits and monthly installments.
- Corporate/Business Training Solutions: Customised training programmes for companies including WSP/ATR submissions, employment equity compliance, discretionary grants management, and host employment arrangements.
- Bursary and Donation Partnerships: Corporate sponsors, donation partners, and mentorship arrangements through the Adopt an Artisan programme, providing Section 18A tax certificates for qualifying donations.
- SETA Funding and Grants: Skills Development Levy reimbursements (up to 20%), Employment Tax Incentive administration, and tax rebate management (R80,000 deduction per individual trained) for corporate clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Marketing Coordinator - 12 months |
| Subscription | Monthly | Project Management - 19 months |
| Subscription | Monthly | Generic Management |
| Subscription | Monthly | Office Administration - 30 months |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Africa Skills product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Africa Skills is a private vocational training college that delivers accredited occupational qualifications across three faculties: Artisan Trades (Electrician, Plumber, Welder, Millwright, Diesel Mechanic, Boilermaker, etc.), Agriculture, and Business (Marketing Coordinator, Project Management, Generic Management, Office Administration). Training is delivered through a distinctive 70/30 workplace-integrated learning model across seven campuses in South Africa, with 70% of learning taking place in real workplace environments and 30% in classroom settings. All qualifications are QCTO-accredited and SETA-approved.
Product overview
Africa Skills is a vocational training college offering a unified platform of accredited occupational qualifications across three main faculties: Artisan Trades, Agriculture, and Business. The institution operates seven campuses across South Africa (GeorgeTech, Centurion, Pofadder, Randburg Business, EBDA, VereenigingTech, and George Ntaka) delivering programmes via a distinctive 70/30 workplace-integrated learning model where 70% of training occurs in the workplace and 30% in the classroom. The product portfolio includes full NQF trade qualifications (Electrician, Plumber, Welder, Millwright, etc.), agricultural qualifications, business qualifications (Marketing Coordinator, Project Management, Office Administration), short courses, skills programmes, and trade testing services. Africa Skills also offers corporate business solutions including workforce training, tax incentive management, and the Adopt an Artisan partnership programme. All qualifications are QCTO-accredited and SETA-approved.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artisan Trade Qualifications Full NQF Level 4 occupational qualifications in high-demand technical trades including Electrician, Plumber, Welder, Millwright, Boilermaker, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Diesel Mechanic, Automotive Motor Mechanic, Mechanical Fitter, Solar PV Service Technician, and Hot Water System Installer. Delivered via the 70/30 workplace-integrated learning model and accredited by QCTO and relevant SETAs. Designed for school-leavers and adult learners seeking Red Seal artisan careers across electrical, plumbing, welding, automotive, construction, and renewable energy sectors.
- Agriculture Qualifications NQF Agricultural Qualifications covering crop production, livestock farming, and agribusiness with hands-on farming training. Accredited by QCTO and AgriSETA, delivered through workplace-integrated learning. Designed for learners seeking careers in farming, agri-processing, and agri-business across South Africa's agricultural sector.
- Business Qualifications Office, administration, and business-focused qualifications including Marketing Coordinator (NQF Level 5, 12 months), Project Management (NQF Level 5, 19 months), Generic Management, and Office Administration. SAQA-registered and QCTO-accredited. Designed for individuals seeking careers in structured office environments with qualifications in business, marketing, finance, and administration.
- Short Courses Various short courses including electrical, welding, plumbing, and boilermaking modules delivered in workshop format ranging from 7 to 25 days. Standalone, shorter-duration skill-building programmes for learners seeking targeted trade exposure.
- Skills Programs Short programmes including Emergency First Aid responder, Assistant Handyperson, Basic Kitchen Appliance Repairer, and various trade-specific skills programmes. Standalone modular offerings for specific skill acquisition.
- Trade Test / ARPL Assessment Accredited trade test centre offering Assessment of Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) for experienced artisans seeking formal qualification recognition. Standalone assessment service for practitioners who have acquired skills through workplace experience but lack formal certification.
- Adopt an Artisan Programme Corporate partnership programme allowing businesses to mentor, donate to, or invest in future artisans with potential tax benefits including Section 18A tax certificates and Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) incentives. Provides companies with a structured pipeline of future employees through sponsored learner development.
- Business Solutions for Companies Workforce training solutions for companies including Tax Rebate assistance (R80,000 deduction per individual trained), Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) management, WSP/ATR Submissions, Employment Equity compliance support, Discretionary Grants management, and Host Employment placement services. Aligned with B-BBEE compliance and SETA funding requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% job placement rate after graduation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Africa Skills
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Africa Skills technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Africa Skills partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)corePrimary regulatory accreditation body for occupational qualifications in South Africa. QCTO accreditation ensures all Africa Skills qualifications meet national standards and are recognized by employers across the country.
- MERSETA (Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA)coreSector Education and Training Authority providing accreditation and funding support for manufacturing and engineering qualifications.
- AgriSETAcoreAgricultural Sector Education and Training Authority supporting agriculture qualifications and skills development in the agri-sector.
- CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority)coreConstruction sector SETA providing accreditation and funding for building and construction trade qualifications.
- EWSETA (Energy and Water SETA)coreEnergy and water sector training authority supporting qualifications in electrical and plumbing trades.
- WRSETA (Wholesale and Retail SETA)coreWholesale and retail sector training authority.
- ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers)coreProfessional body for bookkeepers supporting business and finance qualifications.
- UXI Artisan Development GroupcoreParent organization providing strategic direction, brand support, and network of vocational training campuses across South Africa including IIB, MCD, IETI, FFA, PT, Durnacol, and Africa Skills.
- CTU Training SolutionsminorProfessional learning partner within the UXI network offering additional training solutions.
- IMM (Institute of Marketing Management)minorHigher education partner for marketing qualifications with campuses in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
- Open WindowminorCreative and digital education partner with campuses in South Africa and Zambia.
- Commerce EdgeminorProfessional learning partner for commerce and business qualifications.
- Life Changing Properties NPCminorNPC partner for the Adopt an Artisan donation programme, facilitating Section 18A tax certificates for qualifying donations.
- Host EmployerscoreCompanies providing 70% of practical workplace training for learners, creating employment pathways and industry-aligned skills development.
- Additional SETAs (MictSeta, LG Seta, MQA, Service Seta, Teta, HWSeta, FP&M Seta, INSETA, Cathsseta)coreAdditional sector education and training authorities providing accreditation and funding support across various industries including ICT, local government, mining, services, transport, health, finance, media, and hospitality.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Africa Skills competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
Broad incumbents
- Damelin: Damelin is one of South Africa's largest private colleges offering vocational, technical, and business qualifications across multiple campuses. Comparable to Africa Skills because both serve individual learners with accredited trades and business programmes, but Damelin operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Africa Skills social profiles
Digital presenceAfrica Skills compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance16 records
Africa Skills financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Africa Skills leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Africa Skills funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Africa Skills M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Africa Skills
What does Africa Skills do?
Africa Skills is a private vocational training college that delivers accredited occupational qualifications across three faculties: Artisan Trades (Electrician, Plumber, Welder, Millwright, Diesel Mechanic, Boilermaker, etc.), Agriculture, and Business (Marketing Coordinator, Project Management, Generic Management, Office Administration). Training is delivered through a distinctive 70/30 workplace-integrated learning model across seven campuses in South Africa, with 70% of learning taking place in real workplace environments and 30% in classroom settings. All qualifications are QCTO-accredited and SETA-approved.
Is Africa Skills a public or private company?
Africa Skills is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Africa Skills founded?
Africa Skills was founded in 2006. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Africa Skills based?
Africa Skills is headquartered in George, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Africa Skills make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Learner Tuition and Course Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate/Business Training Solutions, bursary and Donation Partnerships and SETA Funding and Grants.
Who are Africa Skills's main competitors?
Boston City Campus & Business College is listed as a direct peer. Damelin is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Africa Skills have an API?
No public API is recorded for Africa Skills.
What industry is Africa Skills in?
Africa Skills's product category is Vocational Training and Skills Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAB, Technical & Digital Skills Training, with a secondary code of BPADAKAL, Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks. Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.