Skills Development Programmes
BESEC supports both employers and learners through accredited skills development programmes, learnerships and workplace training. We help businesses implement practical, B-BBEE-aligned training solutions while giving learners access to structured programmes that build confidence, workplace readiness and job-relevant skills.
Explore our Skills Development pathways
QCTO Qualifications
Build workplace-ready capability through nationally recognised Occupational Qualifications and Occupational Skills Programmes, combining practical learning with skills aligned to specific roles and workplace needs.
COMENSA Qualifications
Explore accredited Legacy Qualifications that continue to provide recognised learning pathways across business, management and other workplace disciplines.
Legacy Qualifications
Develop practical management and leadership capability through focused learning designed to strengthen people management, workplace performance and organisational effectiveness.
What are Skills Development programmes?
Skills programmes in South Africa are structured learning interventions designed to build the knowledge, practical skills and workplace capabilities people need to perform effectively, progress in their careers or prepare for new occupational roles.
In South Africa, Skills Development can take a number of forms. These include occupational qualifications, shorter occupational skills programmes, learnerships and established qualifications that continue to provide recognised learning pathways.
The right intervention depends on the outcome being developed. Some programmes build broad competence for a defined occupation, while others focus on a specific workplace skill or development need.
For employers, effective Skills Development therefore starts with the capability the organisation needs, not simply with selecting a course.
How should employers choose a Skills Development programme?
A useful Skills Development decision starts with the workplace outcome rather than the programme catalogue.
Employers can work through four questions:
- What capability needs to be developed?
Identify the actual skills gap, occupational requirement or progression need. - Who needs the development?
Consider whether the programme is intended for existing employees, new entrants or another learner group. - What depth of learning is required?
A full Occupational Qualification may be appropriate where broad competence for an occupation is needed. A shorter Occupational Skills Programme may be more suitable for a focused skills requirement. - What recognition or organisational objective matters?
Consider accreditation, qualification outcomes, workplace application and, where relevant, the organisation’s broader Skills Development or B-BBEE objectives.
Where B-BBEE and learnerships fit
Skills Development can also form part of an organisation’s broader B-BBEE and workforce-development strategy.
Learnerships, Occupational Qualifications and other recognised learning interventions may contribute in different ways depending on the applicable programme and B-BBEE framework.
Employers considering training primarily for B-BBEE purposes should first establish how the intervention will be recognised and what implementation and evidence requirements apply.
Understand B-BBEE Skills Development
Explore how B-BBEE learnerships work
Frequently asked questions
Yes, BESEC offers accredited learning options across learnerships, occupational qualifications and skills programmes. Employers can speak to the BESEC team to confirm the most suitable accredited programme for their needs.
Our skills programmes are suitable for employers looking to develop workplace capability, support B-BBEE Skills Development targets and create practical learning opportunities for employees or unemployed learners.
A learnership is typically a longer, structured learning programme linked to a qualification. A skills programme is usually more targeted and focuses on specific workplace skills or occupational tasks.
The right programme depends on your business goals, learner profile, industry, B-BBEE Skills Development requirements and the type of workplace capability you want to build. BESEC can help you identify suitable options.