FLS training academy strengthens Africa’s mining skills base with NAMB accreditation
Accredited training and inclusive skills development position FLS as a leader in building sustainable mining expertise across Africa
From apprentices to graduate engineers, the FLS Training Academy in Chloorkop, Gauteng, continues to expand its capabilities and partnerships to strengthen the mining sector’s skills base. Its impact reaches far beyond South Africa, supporting skills development across Africa and contributing to global mining excellence.
A major milestone in this journey is the facility’s recent accreditation by the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) as an official assessment centre for artisan testing. According to Steve Parkinson, Head of the FLS Training Academy, the accreditation reinforces the academy’s mission to “develop exceptional skills in Africa for Africa”.
“This accreditation allows us to conduct full testing for three vital trade categories: fitters, turners and fitter-and-turners,” Parkinson explains. “It means we can now train, assess and qualify both FLS apprentices and those from other companies in the region, creating a regional hub of technical excellence.”
This recognition positions the FLS Training Academy as a critical contributor to artisan development in the mining and minerals sector. The achievement reflects years of sustained investment in technical infrastructure, training quality, and educator capability, enabling the academy to meet national standards while serving the broader industry.
Established in 2018, the academy has become a central pillar of FLS’s business strategy and social responsibility agenda. In addition to producing a steady pipeline of skilled artisans, the facility supports FLS’s commitment to maintaining its BBBEE Level 1 status and advancing its Women in Mining initiative.
“We are proud that over half of our learners are women,” he says. “It is part of our commitment to diversity and empowerment, ensuring that technical careers especially in traditionally male dominated industries like mining are accessible and attractive to everyone.”
This commitment is reflected in learner demographics. In 2025, 33 of the 61 students enrolled were women, with the majority coming from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. At any given time, the Chloorkop facility hosts between 60 and 90 learners, offering programmes ranging from apprenticeships and learnerships to graduate internships, employee development, and customer training.
“Our technical apprenticeships focus on trades such as mechanical fitting and metal machining, providing practical, real-world experience across the FLS workshop, machining and field services departments,” Parkinson says. “Learners spend their first 11 months at the facility gaining foundational skills before moving into operational environments.”
Strategic partnerships further enhance the academy’s reach and relevance. Collaboration with private vocational training college Sol Tech allows millwright apprentices to gain essential practical experience, while two-year commercial apprenticeships known locally as learnerships cover disciplines such as supply chain management, information technology, business administration, and health and safety.
“Our apprentice programme has become well recognised within FLS, to the extent that we have been requested to assist other regions with their apprenticeship programmes,” he says. “There is also scope to deploy our apprentices in other FLS service centres globally, as and when required.”
Innovation plays an important role in the academy’s training approach. Digital learning tools such as virtual reality welding technology are used to simulate real world conditions, recording performance data with the same precision as conventional welding equipment.
The academy is also advancing professional development for graduate engineers. Collaboration is underway with the Engineering Council of South Africa to secure accreditation as a recognised training facility for professional engineer development.
“We have already designed a development programme and logbook for this purpose,” he says. “Our aim is to ensure that graduates receive systematic support for their engineering careers in the mining industry but also for general industry.”
Through accredited training, inclusive development, and continuous innovation, the FLS Training Academy is playing a vital role in building a resilient, skilled, and future ready workforce for Africa’s mining sector.
