YES is the highest impact private sector youth employment programme in South Africa.
As a private sector led initiative, we address the country’s youth unemployment crisis by empowering businesses to create jobs for our unemployed youth.
We’re a non-profit organisation that receives no government funding. We work with leading businesses in various sectors to provide 12-month quality work experiences for unemployed young people to become the future managers, skilled professionals, and entrepreneurs who will drive the economy forward. In return, businesses receive one or two levels up on their B-BBEE scorecard and / or integrate into their ESG strategies.
Find out here how to gain B-BBEE levels with YES
YES does not perform a recruiting role. Depending on the model your business chooses, there are two ways youth can be recruited.
1.If you choose to host youth inside your own business, using your business’ standard recruiting procedures has shown best long term success in terms of youth fit.
We do, however, recommend that YES clients recruit their youth through the zero-rated platform SAYouth – where clients can source youth talent, and youth can register for job opportunities.
2. Should you opt for the YES turnkey solution, our YES-vetted host implementation partners take care of the recruitment for you, as the youth will be working in their structures, not in your business.
While the youth unemployment stats in our country may be staggering – and there are many challenges, YES reminds us that these challenges are not insurmountable."
Nedbank Group Executive
The work being done by YES is very important in creating sustainable work opportunities for unemployed youth."
Nedbank Group Executive
The YES initiative is one of the most hopeful, impactful and necessary interventions in our country. We are proud to be partners with this powerful programme and we hope that the programme will grow from strength to strength and fulfil its mission."
VWSA’s Director for Corporate and Government Affairs
Aligned to Nedbank’s purpose of using our financial expertise to do good, we are proud to play our part in giving young people hope and a sense of agency in the context of extremely high levels of unemployment. The most inspiring part of this journey has been witnessing the recruits grow and excel within their roles and the change they are leading in their communities."
Nedbank Chief Executive
I’m proud of what we have achieved so far through YES and via our partners, but this is a crisis we can only solve through collaboration. I’m therefore calling on other corporates and businesses to join us in broadening this initiative and giving deserving young people that all important first chance."
Group CEO - Investec
It’s very heartwarming to hear the youths’ stories, and it gives me great confidence in the country. Toyota SA expresses its deep gratitude to the YES programme."
President and CEO of Toyota SA
The Shoprite Group was a first responder to the YES initiative and has been the highest-impact employment creator to date, creating more than 11 000 jobs. We are fully aligned and committed to creating youth opportunities that transform lives.”
Shoprite Group Head: Group Talent & Learning Solutions
We are partnering with YES to empower our young people with relevant skills to thrive in the digital economy."
President of Microsoft Africa
We believe that the learning experience these youth will gain through the cooperation with YES, is fully in line with our company’s philosophy of being “A Great Place to Grow."
Schauenburg International – Africa Group CEO
YES shares our unwavering commitment to driving youth development and creating sustainable employment opportunities. Through our support of this initiative, we not only equip young people with valuable skills and experience, but also open doors for future, long-term economic opportunities. I am pleased that the growth of TFG has meant we have been able to offer the majority of these candidates permanent positions, whilst many others go on to be employed by other corporates."
The Foschini Retail Group – CEO
Empowering the youth with jobs via YES is not just about employment, it's a catalyst for positive change, a ripple effect that transforms communities, fosters innovation, and builds a foundation for a better and brighter tomorrow"
Famous Brands – Group HR Executive
As a proudly South African company we are so pleased to have found such an empowering partner in YES.
Their commitment to connecting the youth to opportunities is inspiring and something that VaultGroup is proud to be a part of.
We look forward to a long-lasting, successful partnership”
Vault Group CEO
Calculate your YES youth target using the online calculator. Skip this step if you are not doing YES for B-BBEE purposes.
Select your company size and the applicable registration fee.
Select the package that your company will be using to implement the YES programme. The cost includes the YES monitoring and evaluation fee.
YES is business, government and labour tackling the country’s greatest challenge together.
YES is an NPO funded by the private sector. We do not receive any government funding.
The YES programme is driven by technology and innovation. Delivering a cross country programme through smartphones, digitally delivered training and evaluation.