The value of Learning and Development Programmes

The well-known phrase “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime” holds true in many instances of life. By teaching a man a skill, he has the opportunity to earn an honest livelihood. Over the past 11 years, Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal has invested in the development of the construction industry by implementing learning and development programmes aimed at driving skills growth and knowledge transfer.

One key programme is the Emerging Contractor Programme which targets small businesses entering the construction sector. This programme provides training, mentorship and support.

While the training sessions aim to build a better understanding of business principles, the purpose of mentoring is to facilitate the personal and professional growth of individuals by providing guidance, support and knowledge transfer, from experienced mentors to mentees. Through this guidance and support, emerging contractors can reach their full potential, which can unlock productivity, creativity and impactful returns for their business.

This model has been successful because mentors can listen to their mentees’ concerns and brainstorm ideas and suggestions about their business challenges. Mentors directly offer recommendations and can suggest professional development priorities to help the mentees establish goals and identify resources. Mentors also share personal knowledge of their own business successes and failures. Mentors provide encouragement, serving as a cheerleader for a mentee’s goals and dreams.

The MBA KZN Emerging Contractor Programme has enrolled 188 emerging contractors to date. This programme has assisted contractors in becoming legally compliant and guiding them to achieve their business goals and objectives. One participant stated, “I thought I knew this stuff, but it wasn’t until I attended this programme that I realised how much I was getting wrong in my business”. This demonstrates how the programme supports individuals who have chosen the built environment as a career by addressing skills and training gaps within the construction industry, while promoting best practice and skills development for construction excellence.  

General statistics show that roughly one-third of new businesses exit the market within their first two years, and half exit within their first five years. The programme has demonstrated remarkable success, with 89% of Emerging Contractors who participated remaining in construction over the 10-year period. This retention rate attests to the success of the programme.

Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal is committed to driving a sustainable, innovative construction industry which seeks to achieve inclusive economic growth and development. It is proud to continue to support Learning and Development programmes.

Please visit the Master Builders website for more information and the 2025 applications for Learning and Development programmes.

Heidi Kilian             /         Mandisa Khumalo

Head: Training                 Learning & Development Manager