August 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
12
marketplace
THE LONG-AWAITED CENTRE
of Excellence
at 33 Argon Road, Fulcrum, Springs, was
officially opened on 14 June. It is based at
the revamped old Building Industries Federa-
tion of SA (BIFSA) premises, now owned by
PC Training & Business College with which
SAPMA/SAPITI has entered into a partnership
with to establish the facility.
The Centrewill offer training programmes
accredited by the Chemical Industries Edu-
cation and Training Authority (CHIETA) and
endorsed by the Department of Labour as
well as the Department of Higher Education
and Training. The Centre will be operated
by the SA Paint Manufacturing Association
(SAPMA) and its training arm, the SA Paint
Industry Training Institute (SAPITI), and con-
tains extensive facilities for both theoretical
and practical training.
SAPITI has revised its paint technology
modules to bring the training offered at the
Centre in line with international standards
and encourage the training of a wider spec-
trum of students to meet the government’s
Long-awaited training centre opened
The new SAPMA/SAPITI Centre of Excellence training facility for the
coatings industry is the first industry-dedicated training centre,
established through prolonged co-operative efforts between a specific
industry and the government, initiated by the coatings sector.
calls for the expansion of skills and job
creation. The Centre – which has access to
the internationally-respected BritishCoatings
Federation (BCF) trainingmodules –will offer
technical tuition at advanced levels as well as
for non-technical industry staff to improve
their knowledge of coatings. BCF training
is recognised by the City & Guilds Institute
of London Institute which is accepted and
respected worldwide.
Deryck Spence, executive director of
SAPMA, says the new facilitywill, for example,
offer a first for South Africa: the fully accred-
ited Practical Applications Qualifications
course, consisting of 25 days’ training, split
into five five-day modules. It will also offer:
• Accredited training for the retail
industry, where the level of training
among store personnel urgently needs
improvement;
• Short, non-accredited training for
smaller retailers; and
• Short, non-accredited training for
paint applicators from smaller painting
contractors who are unable to afford
the time to send staff on longer,
accredited courses.
“Further down the line, we intend expand-
ing training programmes in business sec-
tors such as spray painting, waterproofing,
colour tinting, independent paint laboratory
services, paint application training for the
Department of Correctional Services, and
training of candidates from the Department
of Social Development and Department of
Public Works,”Spence stated.
“The Centre of Excellence will offer the
coatings industry the opportunity of staff
training, subsidised by the government.
This will result in improved skills within the
companies themselves as well as the indus-
try, and will include increased productivity,
the manufacture of higher quality products,
increased profits, and ultimately more job
opportunities andhigher BBBEE score sheets.”
Spence says the opening of the new
Centre is the result of the “excellent work-
ing relationship” that had eventually been
established with CHIETA.
“Training is vitally needed in the coatings
sector – not only froma technical andproduc-
tionpoint of viewbut also froman application
standpoint as well. About 80% of all painting
problems arise from inferior surface prepara-
tion and theConsumer Protection regulations
hold a minefield of potential problems for
companies using untrained staff,”he adds.
As student accommodation and kitchen
amenities are available at the new Centre,
SAPMA/SAPITI will also be able to recruit
candidates fromanywhere in Southern Africa
and the Indian Ocean islands.
Despite the lack of government accredita-
tion, SAPMA/SAPITI managed to train over
7 000 employees of the coatings industry
since 1987.
●
Mollie Ramnundlall (left), a director of the SA Paint Industry Training Institute (SAPITI), officially cuts
the ribbon to formally open the new Centre of Excellence in Springs. Jay Ramnundlall, also a
director of SAPITI, and Terry Ashmore (right), chairman of SAPMA, look on.
Guests at the official opening were shown around the facility which includes miniature houses
installed for practical painting lessons for the students.
August 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
