Midrand Supa Quick forges ahead with empowering youth through the Yes4Youth programme

Supa Quick, the Midrand-based tyre expert company, continues to play a vital role in empowering youth through the Yes4Youth programme.

According to Adeshni Sewbaran, franchise director at the company, South Africa’s sky-high youth unemployment crisis seems like an insurmountable challenge and that is ultimately the wrong attitude.

“We have been working with the government’s Yes4Youth programme for some years, and we are encouraged by the calibre of young people out there. It is all about giving them the opportunity to gain the experience needed to enter the job market. That is the big plus of Yes4Youth. Work experience unlocks many doors,” Sewbaran explained.

The programme transforms companies, communities, and youth lives by connecting youth to economic opportunity and dignity and together, building a future that works

A former Yes4Youth intern, Thabo Zulu joined Supa Quick in March 2021 as a graduate.

Later that same year, he was promoted to fleet coordinator, a position he still holds.

He said moving into a permanent role was a big step for him, and not just because it meant more money.

“The biggest change I’ve had to deal with is the amount of accountability I must take. Being the first point of contact for the channel as well as the fleet clients comes with its own pressure,” he explained.

“It took a while to adjust but with the support of my manager and team I’ve managed to get there.”

Being in a permanent position also brings a sense of freedom — something Zulu finds very enjoyable.

He values being able to make suggestions on how to improve the business, and this in turn means he needs to broaden his view to understand how all the various parts of the business fit together.

“I’ve really had to expand my thinking and how I approach things.”

Of course, as in any job, he has had to learn about the product— in this case, tyres. He was surprised to discover that tyres have expiry dates and can not just sit on a shelf forever.

“Learning about the different types of tyres is also an ongoing project and when I came to the company, I thought a tyre was just a tyre,” he added.

Asked what advice he would give to people on the Yes4Youth programme, Zulu said that the most significant thing is to keep on learning as much as possible.

“There is no skill worth acquiring. Build up your network by connecting with everybody you encounter. Most important of all, realise that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes — just do not let them define you and don’t keep making the same ones.”

Having successfully made the jump from intern to a permanent employee, Zulu wants to acquire his Certified Investment Management Analyst designation as soon as he can to position himself to build a career in finance.

In the long term, he has a big vision to be recognised as one of the leading business minds to come out of Africa.

“It is a big vision, to be sure, but what is more crucial is that Yes4Youth gave me the work experience I needed,” he concluded.

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