In celebration of Youth Month, Kwikot hosted its Future Skills Experience at its Benoni headquarters, welcoming students, educators, media and industry stakeholders for an immersive look into the career pathways powering South African manufacturing, trade and hospitality infrastructure.

Designed to inspire young people to consider futures in technical, operational and service-led industries, the experience gave learners practical exposure to the people, processes and products behind Kwikot’s broader business - from water-heating systems and HVAC solutions to water dispensers, hospitality equipment, stainless-steel tables and back-of-house infrastructure.

South Africa continues to face a critical shortage of skilled artisans and technically trained professionals at a time when infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, energy and commercial facilities all depend on practical skills. This gap is especially visible in high-demand fields such as plumbing, welding, boilermaking, electrical work, fitting and turning, mechanical fitting, HVAC, commercial kitchen support and hospitality operations. The Kwikot Future Skills Experience was designed to show learners that these industries offer real career pathways, not only on the factory floor, but across supply chain, product innovation, installation, customer service, marketing and sector-specific solutions. 

For Kwikot, the day was about turning conversation into action.

“Supporting the next generation cannot only be symbolic. It must be practical, visible and connected to real career pathways,” said Murray Crow, Managing Director of Kwikot. “By opening our doors to students, we want to show that technical and trade careers are essential to South Africa’s growth, and that they connect directly to the industries young people may one day help lead.”

During the event, students were exposed to different areas of the business, including Supply Chain, Trade and Engineering. Learners explored how Kwikot’s manufacturing and commercial solutions support a wide range of sectors, from homes and developments to hotels, restaurants, catering environments and institutional facilities.

The hands-on format encouraged strong engagement from learners, who asked questions about career growth, technical training, hospitality operations, manufacturing processes and the future of trades in South Africa. Educators and institutional representatives welcomed the initiative as a meaningful example of industry creating direct exposure for young people.

As part of the experience, participating schools were invited to capture content and create short social media videos showcasing what they learned. One participating institution will receive R25,000 towards its faculty or school, further supporting the development of future skilled professionals.

Kwikot has also committed to offering internship opportunities to interested learners, helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industry experience.

With a workforce of more than 800 employees and broad manufacturing and commercial capabilities, Kwikot used the event to demonstrate the scale, complexity and opportunity within South African industry - not only in water heating, but across the wider ecosystem of products and services that keep homes, businesses, hospitality venues and institutions running.

The Future Skills Experience, hosted by Kwikot, was a practical investment in young talent, a celebration of technical and hospitality-linked careers, and a reminder that South Africa’s industrial future depends on the skills developed today.