Call to apply for bursaries

Lucian Peterson from Kuils River in Cape Town received his first study bursary from the Shoprite Group in 2009 whilst enrolled for a Bachelor of Accounting degree. He has since completed his studies, qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was appointed as a Trainee Divisional Financial Manager on 1 December 2015 on successful completion of the Group’s South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) approved CA training programme.

Prospective students at universities, universities of technology and hotel schools from this year had the opportunity to apply for study bursaries from the Shoprite Group's extensive bursaries programme in which R20 million was earmarked to provide financial assistance to students in 2016. They are urged to apply for bursaries before 12 December 2015 by going to http://shopritebemore.com.

The group has awarded more than 2500 bursaries over the past 20 years of its bursary programme, 70% of which were allocated in the past five years alone as the need for student financial support became greater.

Bursaries are awarded for scarce skills programmes, such as pharmacy and chartered accounting, along with qualifications such as logistics and supply chain management, information technology, industrial engineering, hospitality, and retail business management and marketing.

Candidates may qualify for a bursary of up to R70,000, depending on the course of study and institution, which allows for tuition, book and accommodation fees. Each bursary granted is linked to a work-back agreement with Shoprite, with career growth prospects within the group thereafter.

LEAP sponsorship

In 2016, the Shoprite Group will also be sponsoring a learner from each of the Langa Educational Assistance Programme (LEAP) Science and Math School's seven campuses in Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape for the year. The programme was established in Langa, but has since expanded throughout the country. With mathematics, physical science and English as compulsory subjects, LEAP provides free education to promising grade 8 to12 pupils from high-need communities whilst focussing on the emotional and social development of these learners.

The group has already awarded 33 deserving matriculants with study bursaries for next year. In 2015, the group awarded bursaries to the value of almost R18 million, enabling over 310 students to equip themselves with the skills and qualifications to become future contributors of a strengthened economy.

On successful completion of their studies, pharmacy students have employment opportunities within one of Shoprite's 157 MediRite pharmacies throughout South Africa, whilst the group's Trainee Management Programme will aid retail business and hospitality management graduates in preparing them to become store managers.

Chartered accountant (CA) field candidates can be placed within Shoprite's South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)-approved CA training programme to complete their internship as articled clerks. The Logistics and Industrial Engineering Graduates Programme trains managers for positions within one of the group's 20 distribution centres, whilst the IT and Marketing Trainee programmes assist graduates to gain the necessary specialised workplace experience.

Shoprite also contributes to the SAICA's Thuthuka Bursary Fund which is specifically geared to support financially needy students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.