Nine Yards

South Africa’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Trails Global Peers Despite Entrepreneurial Potential South Africa has no shortage of entrepreneurs, but their ability to turn promising ideas into sustainable, job-creating businesses is let down by a weak support ecosystem that ranks 7th lowest globally. By Prof Natanya Meyer, acting SARChI Chair in Entrepreneurship Education at the University of Johannesburg https://lnkd.in/ei5k2AVK

Beyond The ‘Bakkie Brigade’: Why TES Is South Africa’s Strategic Workforce Engine The labour market in South Africa faces two constant challenges: persistent skills shortages and a high unemployment rate. Despite the market being flooded with job-seekers, businesses often struggle to find suitable talent when they need it. This is why Temporary Employment Services (TES) providers are crucial for connecting employers with ready-to-work candidates. However, a stereotype persists, often linking TES providers to outdated terms like “labour broking” and the “bakkie brigade”. By Quintus Sliep, Managing Director at WorldWide Staffing https://lnkd.in/eDu55z48

The Hidden Workforce – Using Recognition Of Prior Learning To Bridge South Africa’s Skills Gap Across South Africa, a persistent problem is holding back economic growth. Industries are struggling to fill important roles, yet thousands of experienced professionals are stuck in junior positions. These workers have spent years mastering their jobs, but they cannot move up because they lack the specific formal certificates that many companies demand. This creates a gap where the talent required to solve complex problems already exists, but remains unaccredited and underused. By Esmé Nortjé, HET Academic Manager at Chartall Business College https://lnkd.in/gC5mhEY3

SA’s Financial Services Industry: Why Protecting The Talent Pipeline Is Now Crucial Traditional graduate training model under historic pressure South Africa’s financial sector has long served as a vital gateway for young talent. Banks, insurers, and investment firms have traditionally absorbed the best and brightest graduates, offering structured programmes with roles where junior professionals mastered the fundamentals of the trade before advancing. This model has been central to developing future executives in one of the country’s most sophisticated and globally competitive industries, but the ladder may soon start wobbling under economic imperatives introduced by AI, a leadership expert says. By Advaita Naidoo, Africa MD at Jack Hammer https://lnkd.in/eAFdwrmF

When To Use AI At University – And When Not To South Africa’s conversation around AI in education is loud, contested, and far from settled. But while that debate plays out, students applying to international universities are navigating a more immediate concern. Unlike local applications, which do not require a personal essay, institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and beyond, place significant weight on a student’s ability to write meaningfully about who they are – and as AI makes it easier to produce, it is also making it easier to get wrong. By Brad Latilla-Campbell, Country Manager at Crimson Education https://lnkd.in/e79vXssZ

Closing South Africa’s Digital Gender Gap South Africa’s digital transformation journey has accelerated rapidly in recent years. From cloud adoption and artificial intelligence (AI) experimentation to digital public services and hybrid workplaces, technology is increasingly shaping how businesses operate and how citizens integrate into the economy. Yet amid this progress, one challenge continues to persist quietly in the background: the technological gender gap. By Shobana Sruthi Mohan, Enterprise Analyst at ManageEngine https://lnkd.in/dbSCJqKR

How Medical Aid Regulation Changes Are Shaping The Future Demand For Gap Cover Medical aid remains essential for accessing private healthcare in South Africa, but it does not always cover the full cost of treatment. While regulations such as Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) ensure that members have access to a defined level of care for certain conditions, medical schemes still apply tariff limits, treatment protocols, co-payments and other funding rules that can leave members exposed to out-of-pocket costs. At the same time, healthcare costs continue to rise, placing additional pressure on how schemes fund treatment. As a result, medical expense shortfalls are becoming increasingly common, making gap cover an essential part of helping clients manage their healthcare costs and protecting them against unexpected expenses. By Brian Harris, CEO at Turnberry Management Risk Solutions (Pty) Ltd - Gap Cover https://lnkd.in/dR96fQzp

The Subtle Art Of Saying No A harmless-looking request can do remarkable damage to a working day. One “quick favour” becomes three emails, a meeting and a deadline you never agreed to. Penelope Meniere, National Marketing Manager at Workshop17, explores why so many professionals struggle to say no, and why protecting your capacity may be one of the smartest things you do at work. By Penelope Meniere, National Marketing Manager at Workshop17 https://lnkd.in/eGxec9s8

The State of Franchising in Africa: Pathways to Growth and Inclusion Franchising is fast emerging as a powerful catalyst for economic growth, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion across the African continent. In a rapidly evolving business environment, the sector is demonstrating resilience and adaptability, offering scalable opportunities for small business owners while strengthening value chains across industries. By Andre Beck, Head of Franchising for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank South Africa https://lnkd.in/daBtcaDV

Knowing When It Is Time To Switch To A New Career It is not unusual to go through a rough patch at work or to dislike some elements of your job. It is also not uncommon to find yourself in a work environment that does not suit your personal needs or style. But if you have been unhappy in your job for a long time and do not believe that a change of employers or a promotion will improve things, it might be time to consider a career pivot. By Nolundi Matomane, Talent Acquisition Manager for Pnet https://lnkd.in/dvi9JaXP