For the HVAC industry, where technicians work in environments involving extreme temperatures, electrical risk, chemicals, confined spaces and heavy machinery, proper protective workwear is not optional – it is essential. As the sector expands to support South Africa’s growing cold chain, renewable energy systems, and industrial climate-control demands, the need for safe, well-equipped artisans becomes even more urgent. Sweet-Orr’s latest investment directly strengthens the pipeline of skilled HVAC and refrigeration technicians who keep industries running, safeguard equipment and maintain critical infrastructure. This is part two of a two-part series.
A handover Image. Supplied by Sweet-Orr
Denver Berman-Jacob, executive director at Sweet-Orr warned that South Africa could not afford to leapfrog trades in its pursuit of a services-driven economy. “These industries employ large numbers of people with relatively low skill levels, bringing them into the formal economy. And then the ripple effect begins: one generation works in a factory, and the next moves into law, accountancy or engineering. That’s how you create inclusion and opportunity.”
Beyond access to work, he said inequality remains one of the biggest challenges almost three decades after democracy. “We are still one of the most unequal societies in the world. Giving people access to the right tools and skills is an indirect way of addressing poverty and inequality. It’s about bringing more South Africans into the formal economy.”
The company’s involvement in skills development stretches back decades. Its on-site training school has operated for decades, producing thousands of graduates who have gone on to work in factories, industries and other sectors.
“That history shows our commitment to skills development and to building the economy through people. If we can extend that commitment beyond our own factory gates into communities, then we’re fulfilling a national responsibility,” Berman-Jacob said.
The donation, he said, is part of a larger effort to strengthen trades and industries in South Africa, while another is aimed at protecting lives.
R2.5-million boost for trades and training
Sweet-Orr has committed R2.5-million in protective workwear and safety boots to artisan training schools and skills programmes across the country. The distribution was managed by a non-profit organisation, R-Labs, and aimed to reduce one of the major barriers to entering trade work: the high cost of compliant personal protective equipment (PPE).
“Skills alone are not enough,” Berman-Jacob said. “You cannot access many workplaces without the correct workwear. For start-ups and small businesses, that cost can be prohibitive. By donating PPE, we are removing one of the obstacles preventing people from entering these industries.”
Recent employment data highlights both risk and opportunity in trades. The trade sector shed 52 000 formal jobs in the last quarter, while construction added 55 000 jobs year-on-year, showing that although some industries are under pressure, trades continue to generate opportunities.
More than workwear, it’s about survival
“Workwear could also be a matter of life and death in sectors such as chemicals, electricity, and heat. If you’re working in an environment with chemical spills, arc flash or flames, the right garment protects you. It’s not just about compliance, it’s about survival.”
The handover of protective workwear to various startups and community groups began in October and continued over the last month.
Source: Supplied by Sweet-Orr
