How Ubuhle Is Leading the Shift to Occupational Qualifications

As South Africa’s Skills Development landscape continues to move from legacy qualifications to occupational qualifications, employers are facing a critical question:

Are we ready for QCTO?

At Ubuhle People Solutions, our answer is clear: we did not wait for the transition to happen. We prepared early, implemented practically, aligned our internal systems and delivered QCTO and occupational qualifications at a National scale.

From 2023 to 2025, Ubuhle enrolled 1,512 learners exclusively across QCTO and occupational qualifications, excluding our broader legacy qualification delivery. Across these occupational programmes, Ubuhle achieved an overall 88% completion rate.

In 2026, Ubuhle has a confirmed pipeline of a further 1,632 QCTO learners, supported by our existing large corporate client base.

This is more than readiness. This is QCTO implementation in action.

Leading from the Front

Ubuhle’s QCTO readiness journey started long before many businesses were under pressure to transition.

In 2023, Ubuhle was one of the first training providers to run a QCTO qualification in South Africa, piloting the Retail Chain Store Manager NQF Level 5 qualification with a leading national retailer in partnership with W&RSETA.

The programme was rolled out nationally across all provinces and achieved an 87% completion rate.

This early pilot gave Ubuhle valuable, practical experience in the QCTO environment, including occupational qualification structures, learner support, workplace integration, evidence requirements, administration and preparation for external assessment.

Rather than waiting for legacy qualification deadlines, Ubuhle chose to tackle the transition head-on.

National Delivery for Large Corporate Employers

Between 2023 and 2025, Ubuhle delivered QCTO and occupational qualification programmes for nine large corporate clients and entities across South Africa.

These included major employers in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing, plastics, stationery, mining, distribution and supply chain sectors.

The programmes were implemented for some of South Africa’s most recognisable large corporate brands and entities, many with National footprints and complex Skills Development requirements.

Ubuhle’s delivery took place across all nine provinces, demonstrating our ability to manage National implementation, multi-site coordination, learner support, workplace evidence, compliance administration and employer reporting at scale.

Qualifications Delivered

Ubuhle’s QCTO and occupational qualification delivery includes a strong mix of retail, supervisory, production, logistics and manufacturing-focused learning pathways.

Programmes delivered include:

• Perishable Goods Replenisher NQF 2
• Retail Chain Store Manager NQF 5
• Store Person NQF 2
• Retail Supervisor NQF 4
• Sales Assistant NQF 3
• Sales Assistant General / Retail Sales Advisor NQF 3
• Shelf Filler NQF 2
• Production Operator NQF 3
• Dispatch and Receiving Clerk NQF 3
• Plastics Manufacturing NQF 3
• Firstline Supervisor NQF 4
• Manufacturing Production Process Controller NQF 4
• Production Process Controller NQF 4

These qualifications reflect Ubuhle’s ability to support practical, workplace-based learning in environments where productivity, compliance, learner progression and operational relevance are essential.

Measurable Results

From 2023 to 2025, Ubuhle achieved the following QCTO and occupational qualification outcomes:

• 1,512 QCTO and occupational qualification learners enrolled
• 88% overall completion rate
• National delivery across all nine provinces
• Programmes delivered for nine large corporate clients and entities
• 87% completion rate on the Retail Chain Store Manager NQF Level 5 National pilot
• Confirmed pipeline of a further 1,632 QCTO learners for 2026

These results show that Ubuhle’s QCTO readiness is not theoretical. It has already been tested through National delivery, large employer partnerships, learner support and measurable completion outcomes.

How Ubuhle Prepared for QCTO

Ubuhle’s readiness was built through deliberate action, not last-minute reaction.

To prepare for the occupational qualification environment, Ubuhle:

• Conducted extensive research into QCTO requirements and occupational qualifications
• Implemented QCTO programmes before the legacy qualification deadlines
• Updated learning material to align with QCTO and occupational qualification requirements
• Aligned facilitators, assessors, and moderators
• Mapped legacy qualifications to relevant occupational qualifications
• Engaged with QCTO, SETAs, SAQA and relevant Stakeholders
• Prepared for External Integrated Summative Assessment requirements
• Strengthened administration, learner support, workplace evidence and reporting processes

This proactive approach gave Ubuhle first-hand operational knowledge of what successful QCTO implementation requires.

What This Means for Employers

For large employers, QCTO readiness is not only a training issue. It impacts workforce planning, B-BBEE strategy, compliance, learner performance, productivity and long-term skills pipelines.

Employers need a training partner that understands how to move from theory to implementation.

Ubuhle supports employers with:

• Occupational qualification planning
• National learner rollouts
• Workplace-based learning implementation
• Learner support and progress tracking
• Portfolio and workplace evidence management
• External assessment preparation
• SETA, QCTO and SAQA alignment
• Skills development reporting and B-BBEE-linked training strategy

Our experience gives employers confidence that their Skills Development plans can continue moving forward in the QCTO environment.

Representative Feedback

“Our organisation needed a training partner that could support national implementation while understanding the practical requirements of QCTO delivery. Ubuhle brought structure, guidance, and confidence to the process.”

“Ubuhle’s learner support and programme management helped us keep implementation on track across multiple sites and provinces.”

“The shift to occupational qualifications can feel complex, but Ubuhle’s preparation and understanding of the QCTO environment made the process easier to navigate.”

“As a learner, the programme helped me understand my role better and apply my learning directly in the workplace.”

Looking Ahead

With a confirmed pipeline of 1,632 additional QCTO learners for 2026, Ubuhle continues to support South African employers as they transition into the occupational qualifications environment.

Our National delivery experience, learner support model, employer partnerships and early QCTO implementation have positioned Ubuhle as a trusted Skills Development partner for the future.

At Ubuhle People Solutions, QCTO readiness is not a future promise.

It is already in action.