TDM Powered offers two competency based programmes. The Toolroom Assistant Programme stretches over one year and the Apprenticeship Programme over three to four years. The programmes aim to provide students with the basic, core and eventually specialist skills in the tool, die and mould making disciplines to enable them to qualify as toolroom assistants and toolmaker artisans. Once qualified, students can pursue careers in cross cutting sectors such as the aerospace, automotive, chemical, electronics, leisure, marine, medical, mining and packaging industries.

The learning content of both programmes is structured to include fundamental and applied theory, trade theory, workshop practical training and on-the-job training, providing students with extensive industry exposure and experience. The 2013 intake of TDM Powered Toolroom Assistant is sponsored by the East London Industrial Development Zone while the apprenticeship candidates are sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry. Students will receive a stipend during Phase 3, the workplace on-the-job training phase, to support them with transport costs to the companies where they will receive their on-the-job exposure and training.

Van Dyk says the training of sufficient skilled people for the tooling industry is of critical importance as manufacturing is one of the cornerstones of the South African economy, creating economic growth, employment and wealth. In order to produce high quality products at affordable prices, manufacturers rely on advanced technology and highly trained people, provided by the tooling manufacturing industry, to produce the tools, moulds and dies required for the manufacturing process.

“South Africa is currently experiencing a critical shortage of technically skilled people in the tooling manufacturing industry. This obviously has important implications for the manufacturing industry and continued growth in the country,” says Van Dyk. “South Africa, has however, now taken dedicated steps to address the problem, by introducing the TDM Powered skills development programme. TDM Powered was initiated by the Intsimbi National Tooling Initiative and is a partnership between the Toolmaking Association of South Africa and the Department of Trade and Industry. The project is a strategic growth stimulator for manufacturing and technical skills development, a complement to the South African government’s commitment to halve poverty and unemployment by 2014.”

To learn more about the study opportunities and careers in manufacturing East London matriculants, industry incumbents and out of school youth are invited to attend a “Careers in manufacturing and toolmaking” open day at:

Border Training Centre Hall, No 10 Mfaxa Road, NU1, Mdantsane, East London on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 from 09:00 to 15:00.

Entry requirements for the TDM Powered Programmes are Grade 12/ NC(V)4 / N3 with required subjects: Mathematics, Physical Science/Engineering Science and English.

For more information and application forms please contact Neliswa Mtsweu at Boarder Training Centre – NU1, Mdantsane on 083 743 3591. Alternatively, email [email protected].