Collective X adopts ‘always on’ approach to skills fund

Non-profit Collective X has introduced a continuous application process for its Digital Skills Impact Fund, making R200 million in financial assistance available to South African businesses for upskilling initiatives throughout the year. The fund, which began in 2024, operates on a co-funded model to provide cost-effective training for employers looking to develop a skilled digital workforce.

Collective X aims to double the number of digitally-skilled South Africans to over 40,000 by 2030 and help 500,000 young individuals secure digital roles by 2034. Over 1,800 young people have taken part in or are currently engaged in programmes funded by Collective X, with 97% of participants finding employment, and more than 75% retaining their jobs after six months.

Executive for the Digital Skills Impact Fund at Collective X, Nsika Mutasa, highlights that the always-on approach ensures a direct connection between young people and the specific skills and workplace experience demanded by employers. The fund's removal of fixed application windows has helped overcome the bottleneck created by annual application cycles, enabling it to scale operations and support more employer and implementation partners.

This 'always on' approach aims to expand the network of active partners, increasing from 30 to 100 by the end of 2026. By aligning fund-supported programmes with the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), Collective X ensures that participants achieve a minimum SFIA level three competency, providing employers with a talent pool that meets international standards.

Collective X emphasizes that the fund's success relies on the cohesive effort of funders, employers, training providers, and government to create demand-driven, scalable solutions that address South Africa's digital skills crisis. The fund supports two routes into employment, and Collective X's CEO, Evan Jones, stresses that the success of this initiative hinges on all stakeholders working towards verified outcomes, resulting in a pipeline of employable young people ready to enter the digital economy.