Retail Training Programmes and Learnerships to Apply for in South Africa

South Africa’s retail sector is massive, covering everything from fashion and groceries to tech and furniture. If you’re a young person looking for a way in, retail training programmes and learnerships are one of the best starting points. These programmes don’t just hand out theory—they give you workplace exposure, a stipend, and in many cases a recognised qualification.

Here’s a look at some of the best places where you can find retail courses, wholesale learnerships, and frontline training opportunities in 2025.

1. TFG (The Foschini Group)

TFG, home to brands like Foschini, Markham, Totalsports, and @home, is one of the biggest fashion and lifestyle retailers in South Africa. Beyond selling clothes, they’ve built a reputation for youth workplace programmes.

Every year, TFG runs 12-month learnerships for unemployed youth. You don’t need a qualification to apply for some of them—matric is enough—and learners are placed in TFG stores, factories, or even contact centres. 

The training is accredited and falls under the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), meaning you walk away with something official.

They also participate in the YES4Youth programme, which offers young people a full year of paid workplace exposure. A nice bonus? Learners get access to TFG’s digital training library, and YES participants even receive a smartphone loaded with training apps—and they keep it after completing the programme.

The best part is that many learners who do well are absorbed into permanent jobs within the TFG group, making it a proper gateway into fashion retail careers.

Apply here: TFG Youth Workplace Opportunities

2. GP Retail Academy

GP Retail Academy is more specialised—they focus almost entirely on retail career development. Their programmes are designed to prepare learners for frontline retail roles, store management, and wholesale training.

They work with retail companies to connect learners straight into the industry. You can start with basic programmes like customer service or store operations, and if you want to go further, they also have management training to help you move up.

On top of learnerships, they also have short retail courses. These are good if you want to learn specific skills fast while still working toward a full qualification later.

Apply for here: GP Retail Careers

3. Mr Price Foundation – Retail Frontline Programme

The Mr Price Foundation runs the Retail Frontline Programme (RFP) to help young South Africans get into retail. It’s not a full learnership with a long qualification, but it works in a similar way and gives you the skills you need for entry-level jobs.

The programme starts with an online life skills course, then moves into classroom sessions, interviews, and a short week of work experience in a retail store. It’s focused on things like customer service, sales, and workplace readiness – basically the basics you’ll need when starting out in retail.

To apply, you must be a South African citizen, between 18 and 33 years old, unemployed, and have Matric (Grade 12). 

You’ll also need a phone or computer with internet access, since the first part of the training is online. A clean criminal record is also required.

Many learners get placed within Mr Price Group stores after completing the programme. That includes brands like Mr Price, Mr Price Home, Sheet Street, Power Fashion, and Miladys. In some cases, they also link learners to other retail employers. Also look at the best training courses for easy job opportunities.

The programme doesn’t promise a permanent job, but it makes you more employable and gives you a better chance of getting hired. Thousands of young people have already gone through RFP and landed entry-level jobs in stores across the country.

Apply here: Mr Price Foundation – RFP

You may also look at these 13 Best Learnerships for Matriculants with No Experience if you want more options.

4. Retail Solutions

Retail Solutions is not just a training provider – they’re a full staffing and skills partner for the retail industry. They cover everything from recruitment and HR support to staff training programmes, which include SETA-accredited wholesale and retail learnerships.

For learners, this means you can be placed on a retail learnership that’s usually funded by an employer. These programmes range from entry-level retail operations (like working on the shop floor, handling customers, or managing stock) to supervisory and management training if you want to move up.

What makes Retail Solutions stand out is their network. They’ve partnered with big retail names such as Checkers, Game, Makro, SPAR, Builders Warehouse, and BUCO. That gives learners a real chance to train in established stores and get exposure to how large retailers operate.

Apply here: Retail Solutions CV Submission

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about starting a career in retail, there’s no shortage of options in South Africa. From big players like TFG and Mr Price to specialist training providers like Edutel, GP Retail Academy, and Retail Solutions, there’s a path for every level of learner.

The key is to look for programmes that not only offer accredited retail training but also give you workplace exposure and a chance at permanent employment. With retail being one of the biggest employers in South Africa, retail learnerships and wholesale training programmes can be the quickest way to get your foot in the door.