Technical Trade Program gives Tradesmen mining exposure, signs MoU for new intake

Base Titanium has held a graduation to mark the end of its second intake of apprentices.

The programme was run in collaboration with the National Industrial Training Institute (“NITA”) and targeted 10 recent form-four leavers who had ambitions to become qualified light vehicle mechanics.

The programme is designed to allow for maximum on the job practical experience so the graduating students would be “job ready” for their next employer.

NITA designed and delivered the theoretical component through an intense, condensed classroom programme which was supplemented by the direct practical application on the job.

The first apprentice programme was launched in collaboration with the Technical University (TUM) of Mombasa in 2014. This was a three-year Diploma programme targeting 20 apprentices who were selected from areas directly impacted by the Base Titanium Kwale mine. The program successfully produced qualified electricians, boilermakers and heavy vehicle motor mechanics. The twenty, while currently working on a short-term upgrade project at Base, is developing a business plan to set up a trade cooperative business to provide qualified domestic and commercial trade services on the coast.

Mr Paul Thompson, the Occupational Health, Safety and Training Manager at Base Titanium, noted that they had been able to work with tertiary institutions to design two courses that were real and met the needs of industry thus making them proud of the programme.

“We will now begin to bridge the known skills gaps in trade skill areas and enable industry players to access job-ready talent. Such programmes will be key to enticing large-scale investors to the mining sector and will ultimately assist in Kenya’s economic transformation,” said Mr Thompson.

Thompson added that what they needed was more industry players joining them in their journey, thus giving Kenya’s youth access to real on the job training.

NITA commended Base on its training programmes and urged that they are used as a model for other programs to ensure a consistent approach to skills transfer across other Kenyan industries and organisations.

The Ministry of Mining envisages a growth target for the mining sector to contribute 10 percent to GDP by 2030. Mining companies will play a significant role in providing some of the key ingredients, including capacity building, to attract further large-scale investments in the mining sector to meet its targets.

Following the success of the first two programmes, Base and NITA signed a third Memorandum of Understanding that will see them mounting the third apprentice programme to commence in October 2017.

The programme will have 24 students pursuing a Mechanical, Automotive or Electrical craft certificate at NITA’s Mombasa campus.

The company has invested over 16 million shillings in its apprentice training programmes and believes the return on the investment has been threefold.