The event took place at the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM) civic centre last Wednesday.

According to Linda Wiseman Malindisa, responsible for NHRBC training in Mpumalanga, this is the second group of trailblazing entrepreneurs demonstrating their commitment to transformation of the construction sector through investing in the upskilling of emerging women entrepreneurs.

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“We taught 12 women about technical issues regarding how to build a house, and also assisted them with NHBRC registration. The candidates have also been exposed to technical requirements that are critical for the production of quality homes in line with the council mandate,” he said.

They were taken through various skills courses which included occupational health and safety, introduction to construction, understanding of a business plan, the house development value chain, innovative building technologies and home building technical skills.

This business development programme is an enabling environment for networking and mentorship opportunities for the candidates.

As a result, these innovative entrepreneurs have established joint ventures and partnerships that enable them to leverage on one another’s strengths and capacities in order to pursue greater opportunities in the sector.

Post-graduation, they would be further supported by being linked to opportunities in the human settlements space and construction sector through strategic partnerships.

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The NHBRC has launched a series of skills training workshops for women with an interest in the construction field aimed at solidifying the advancement of equal opportunities in the industry.

The transformation of the construction sector remains a key focus for the council and is driven through skills development and training of homebuilders.