Young black technicians are entering the jobs market thanks to training initiatives being run by local technology companies.

The local subsidiary of the international software company SAS Institute has 12 students on an 18-month training programme to learn organisational and business skills followed by on-site technical training. The students have just been placed with four companies using SAS software.

Professional services manager Steven Ing said the customers hosting and mentoring the students were Nedbank, Mayibuye and Real Global Business Solutions as well as SAS itself.

The candidates were chosen after assessments of their skill and experience as well as their values, morals and background, to ensure compatibility with the culture and values of the host companies. The host company has an option, but no obligation, to employ the candidates at the end of the training.

"Through this initiative we hope to address the shortage of qualified SAS resources in the marketplace," said Ing, who also said that the project would now be extended.

Another training scheme being run by Bytes People Solutions has led to some students setting up their own businesses. The four students have started a company called PalsIT Solutions, which is being funded by the networking company UUNet and the Western Cape provincial government.

PalsIT is being hosted free of charge at the UUNet offices in Cape Town, where they have office space and a budget for their business facilities.