Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programmes 2026 / 2027

Opportunity Overview

Pick n Pay invites unemployed South Africans to apply for its UIF Skills Programmes, commencing in 2026/2027. This initiative offers a valuable opportunity to gain practical workplace experience and develop essential retail skills. Participants will engage in structured learning and on-the-job training, building a pathway towards future employment within the retail sector.

The programmes are designed as 6 to 12-month contracts, utilising a blended learning model that combines online study with practical in-store experience. Throughout the programme, individuals will receive coaching from experienced Store Mentors, gain customer service and retail operations skills, and benefit from ongoing support and development.

Participants can choose from various career streams, including:

• All Rounders: Experience multiple areas of retail, gaining customer service skills, merchandising experience, frontline retail operations knowledge, and exposure across different store departments.
• Health & Beauty Heroes: Learn about health and beauty products, develop specialist retail knowledge, sales, and customer engagement skills, along with merchandising experience.
• Mastercut: For those with a passion for food and working with their hands, this programme offers specialist butchery skills, practical in-store experience, and industry-recognised exposure.
• Freshrize: Turn a passion for baking into a career, learning bakery production skills, food preparation experience, customer service expertise, and gaining practical workplace exposure.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a Grade 12 / Matric certificate.
• Be aged between 18 and 40 years.
• Be a South African citizen.
• Currently be unemployed.
• Possess a passion for customer service, retail, and food.
• Be willing to work retail trading hours.
• Demonstrate good communication and teamwork skills.
• Show a commitment to completing a 6 to 12-month development programme.

Key Responsibilities

Participants will learn and develop skills tailored to their chosen programme stream. This includes:

• For All Rounders: Practising customer service, engaging in merchandising tasks, understanding frontline retail operations, and gaining exposure across various store departments.
• For Health & Beauty Heroes: Acquiring product knowledge for health and beauty items, developing sales and customer engagement techniques, and assisting with merchandising.
• For Mastercut: Learning and applying specialist butchery skills, gaining hands-on in-store experience, and receiving workplace exposure in the retail food industry.
• For Freshrize: Developing bakery production skills, participating in food preparation, enhancing customer service expertise, and gaining practical experience in a bakery environment.

How to Apply

To apply for the Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programmes:

• Visit the official application portal.
• Click on the "Apply" button to begin your application.
• Follow the prompts to complete the online application form and submit any required documents.

Apply for the Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme here