USING THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (YES) PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE YOUR B-BBBEE STATUS

Optimise your B-BBEE status with the YES initiative

The Youth Employment Service (YES) is a ground-breaking initiative designed to address the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa while offering your business significant B-BBEE advantages. By implementing a YES work experience programme, your organisation can enhance your B-BBEE recognition level.

At Training Force, we provide a turnkey management service for the YES4Youth initiative, ensuring your programme is compliant, impactful, and audit ready.

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WHAT IS A YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (YES) PROGRAMME AND HOW CAN IT BENEFIT YOUR COMPANY?

The YES programme is a 12-month quality work experience specifically for black youth aged 18 to 35. Unlike standard training interventions, the primary benefit of the YES programme is that it can directly improve your B-BBEE status level.

THE B-BBEE “LEVEL-UP” BENEFITS OF THE YES PROGRAMME

By meeting your YES targets, you can enhance your B-BBEE recognition level:

  • Achieve YES target + 2.5% absorption: Move up 1 B-BBEE level.
  • Achieve 1.5 x YES target + 5% absorption: Move up 1 B-BBEE level plus 3 bonus points.
  • Achieve 2 x YES target + 5% absorption: Move up 2 B-BBEE levels.

Additional financial and scorecard advantages

  • Skills development spend: You can include 50% of informal skills development expenditure for your YES employees under Categories F and G of your skills development scorecard.
  • Workplace productivity: You gain a pipeline of motivated young talent, mentored and managed by Training Force to ensure they add value to your operations from day one.

QUALIFYING FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE YES4YOUTH PROGRAMME?

To register for the YES programme and claim the level-up benefit, your organisation must meet specific sub-minimum requirements to demonstrate a baseline commitment to transformation:

  • Generic entities (Turnover > R50m): You must meet the 40% sub-minimum requirements of the three priority elements OR achieve an average of 50% across these elements.
  • Qualifying small entities (QSEs): You must achieve an average of 40% performance across two priority elements.
  • Exempted micro enterprises (EMEs): You are eligible to participate and level up immediately with no specific sub-minimum requirements.

Interested in the YES initiative?

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE YES PROGRAMME

    HOW ARE YOUR YES TARGETS CALCULATED?

    For generic entities, targets are determined by selecting the highest result from:

    1. 5% of your total headcount;
    2. 5% of your average Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) from the last three years (converted to a headcount by dividing by R55,000); or
    3. A revenue-based target (e.g., 6 youths for R50m revenue, up to 15 youths for R500m revenue).

    WHAT IF YOU CANNOT CREATE ENOUGH NEW JOBS INTERNALLY?

    If your organisation is unable to host the required number of youth within your own workplace, the YES programme allows you to sponsor qualifying new jobs in EMEs or QSEs. This ensures you continue to receive B-BBEE benefits while supporting small-business growth.

    CAN A YES PROGRAMME HELP YOU IF YOU HAVE BEEN “DISCOUNTED”?

    Yes. It is important to note that the YES gazette does not change the priority element compliance requirements. If you miss a 40% sub-minimum requirement on a priority element, you will still be penalised by one B-BBEE level. However, your organisation can now regain that level through the YES initiative and potentially achieve further level enhancements through higher performance.

    WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL SCORECARD BENEFITS FOR YES EMPLOYEES?

    Beyond the level enhancement, the YES programme may support recognition of the Skills Development scorecard where structured training is provided. Certain informal and workplace-based training (Categories F and G) for YES participants can be claimed, subject to compliance with the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice and appropriate documentation.

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