Top100 SkillsPassport

Bridging the digital & economic divide

ABOUT SKILLSPASSPORT

The SkillsPassport concept originated in 2015 as a result of the challenges that job seekers face in presenting themselves to potential employers. The result is often that job seekers, sometimes well qualified, just give up and remain unemployed because it costs money, which you don’t have, to keep looking for a job.

Employers are also limited on credible information and references when assessing job applications which increases the chance of making wrong employment decisions.

SkillsPassport was founded by Paul Hodgson who has had several businesses in the recruitment, training, digital and franchise environments. Paul acts as the CEO of SkillsPassport and is supported by Errol Pillay, Michael Oosthuizen and Kobus Oosthuizen from SA Franchise Warehouse.

SkillsPassport is an app based solution which allows an individual to be represented through a dynamic digital profile (DDP) to be visible in the cloud to employers recruiting staff and institutions seeking candidates to include in learnership programmes.
There are large training companies receiving funding from institutions such as the National Skills Fund but they need to find people of a certain demographic, normally unemployed, to include in the learnerships. These institutions are using SkillsPassport to search for, and evaluate, suitable candidates.

There are billions of rands of unclaimed pension benefits because beneficiaries cannot be located. For this reason it makes sense for retired or elderly individuals to get a SkillsPassport.

SkillsPassport assumes a cradle to grave principle which means that it lives with you for life. It can never be lost or substituted. 
School kids should have SkillsPassports where their entire school career marks can be hosted. As a person gets older and more experienced, so does the DDP become more substantial which means better employment prospects.

SKILLSPASSPORT FEATURES

There are a large number of features included in the SkillsPassport app but for your basic understanding of the value proposition to member as well as the employer, we highlight the basic functionality.

SkillsPassport hosts, amongst other information, the personal details, qualifications and employment history of individuals, as a CV would do, but that is where it starts.

SkillsPassport also includes ratings from previous employers which is of huge value to future employers. The same principle applies as with the rating of an Uber driver but with rating more areas. If three previous employers rated Joe Soap an average of 4,9 out of 5, then any future employer don’t need to rely too much on other information because the ratings are from three different independent sources.

SkillsPassport also includes a “Learning Centre” where SkillsPassport members can complete on-line courses and attain qualifications, from the members’ cellphone in various disciplines at no additional cost to the holder of the SkillsPassport.
The holder of the SkillsPassport can at anytime generate its own CV from the app and e-mail it to potential employers from any smart device with the click of a button.

The profile of an individual on SkillsPassport can for very specific reasons not be published, changed or manipulated by the member itself and this is where the opportunity for the SkillsPassport Agency and SkillsPassport Franchise exist.

The SkillsPassport of an individual member can only be created, published or edited with the intervention of a qualified SkillsPassport Agent, who needs to verify if such information as correct. The accuracy, independence and validity of information on the SkillsPassport is core to its existence and that is why employers will eventually rely and insist on a SkillsPassport before considering the employment of an individual.

ESTABLISHMENT COST

The once off cost of a SkillsPassport to the individual member is R89,00 which is less than the taxi fare to town to search for a job or to have your CV typed up and emailed at an internet cafe. Of the R89,00 the SkillsPassport Agent earns between R12,00 and R23,00 per passport depending on how many paid SkillsPassports are activated per month. 

As soon as a SkillsPassport Agent reaches an average number of 200 SkillsPassports or more per month for three consecutive months, the agent becomes entitled to a SkillsPassport Franchise that will now be able to appoint SkillsPassport agents to represent and sell on behalf of the SkillsPassport Franchise.

The cost of a SkillsPassport Agency is a once off payment of R25 000,00 excluding VAT which includes the following;
  • License to operate as a SkillsPassport Agent with the option to upgrade to a SkillsPassport Franchise
  • Full training on the functionality of the app and how to generate and maintain a SkillsPassport
  • 600 SkillsPassport cards
  • 2 roll up banners
  • 5000 pamphlets
  • 3 T-shirts
  • 1 Cap
It is pertinent to note that a SkillsPassport Agent does not have to be involved on a full time basis from the outset. It is quite possible to retain an employed position whilst operating as a part time SkillsPassport Agent after hours and on week ends until the agent has established itself in his or her community.

Once a SkillsPassport Agent earns the right to upgrade to SkillsPassport Franchise, the franchisee needs to buy a minimum of 5 additional user licenses at R5 000,00 each. The cost of cards and promotional material required is extra.

If 5 SkillsPassport agents sells a minimum of 200 SkillsPassports each per month, the franchisee would be earning a minimum of R18 000, per month and each of the agents a minimum of R5000,00 per month. If the franchisee has 10 agents, the income of the franchisee would be around R35 000,00 with virtually no overhead costs.

Besides the income earned on the direct sale of SkillsPassports, there are other opportunities for a franchisee to maximise his or her income but information on that will be provided once engagement continues.

The current price of R89,00 for a SkillsPassport to the member will increase as more SkillsPassports are being issued and as more employers insist on SkillsPassport as a condition of employment. In such instance, the commission earned by the agent and the franchisee will increase proportionately.

COMPANY INFORMATION

Registered name
SkillsPassport South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Registration number
2017/446434/07
Head office address
First Floor, Block C, Waterkloofpark, 469 Julius Jeppe Street, Waterkloof, 0181
Postal address
PO Box 95344, Waterkloof, 0145 
Phone
+27 12 460 2345

FAQ's

What is franchising?

Franchising is defined as an arrangement where one party (the franchiser) grants another party (the franchisee) the right to use its trademark and/or trade name as well as certain business systems and processes, to produce and market goods or service according to certain specifications. The franchisee usually pays a one-time franchise fee as well as a percentage of turnover as royalty or management services fee. For this the franchisee gains immediate name recognition, tried and tested products, standard building design and décor, detailed techniques for running and promoting the business, training of employees, and ongoing assistance in promoting and upgrading of the products.

Am I suited to franchising?

While franchises are growing in popularity, the sad reality is that many people enter into franchise agreements thinking it’s a fool-proof plan for success, but the fact is that franchises still fail. The very essence of a franchise is consistency. If you’re not happy to follow someone else’s blueprint, you may be better suited to a different type of venture.

How do I evaluate a franchise opportunity?

FASA has issued a publication entitled How to Evaluate a Franchise and franchisees are encouraged to refer to this publication. FASA will also assist a potential franchisee in evaluating a franchise opportunity.

How data-hungry is the application process?

The bandwidth required to complete the application, excluding the uploading of source documents, is less than that of a single high-resolution photograph.

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Should you wish to proceed with the application process, you will be required to register online and navigate your way through a 6-step application process. Only after completing the application process will the franchisor provide you with a detailed Disclosure Document as required by the Consumer Protection Act. 

The 6-step application process is designed with three objectives:
  1. To allow the prospective candidate an opportunity to disclose and communicate all the personal information required by the franchisor and the funder to take a view on how well-suited you are for assuming the role of franchisee.
  2. As intimidating or time consuming as the application process may seem, it exposes you to a fraction of the level of resilience required to ultimately own and manage your own franchised business. 
  3. Successful franchisees comply with the rules and procedures of the business system. Completing the five steps of the application process can be deemed your introduction to adhering to the SkillsPassport business system.
While the application process is not intended to discourage prospective franchisees or to create barriers to entry, the process by its very nature will serve as an early deterring mechanism for candidates who should not be pursuing business ownership. The truth is that the challenges a franchisee will face in their own business is significantly more complicated and daunting than the application process. If you are intimidated by the 6-step process running a business will likely be more challenging than you are anticipating, essentially putting yourself, the franchisor, the funder, the landlord and your future staff at risk.

From a cost perspective the charges relating to the entrepreneurial assessment, application review and credit profile verifications are insignificant when measured against the cost of buying a franchise, and it could be the best money you ever spent should the outcome confirm that you should not venture into business or that you would not be able to attract funding.

APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP 1

Register
online

STEP 2

Complete 
quick application

STEP 3

Online Entrepreneurial and Franchisee Aptitude Assessment 
R345.00 VAT Incl and Interview

Upon completion of STEP 1 to 3, you will receive a notification from SkillsPassport to proceed with STEP 4

STEP 4

Complete full application plus document uploads

STEP 5

Request credit check 
and application review 

STEP 6

Franchisor introduction
meeting

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