(Virtual Showroom)Leading drilling technology solutions provider Rosond is redefining its role not just as a drilling-industry training provider, but as a launch pad for the digital-savvy workforce of tomorrow. This year’s World Youth Skills Day, celebrated annually on 15 July, takes on the forward-looking theme of ‘Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills’.

Recognising the pivotal role of technical and vocational training in bridging the digital divide, Rosond is aligning its programmes with this mandate. Glen McGavigan, Chief Executive Officer at Rosond, highlights a strategic shift: “While our core remains drilling, we are integrating digital literacy into our curriculum to future-proof our trainees.”

Training centres in Thabazimbi, Rustenburg, Fochville, and Kathu now blend traditional skill development, technical, health and safety with modules on digital tools. All offerings follow industry-aligned training standards and accredited facilitators, assessors, and moderators are used where applicable.

Rosond is making inroads through learnerships and bursaries in geology, IT, and engineering. It supports youth into employment, ranging from contact centre roles to field operations, which are pathways to bridge the experience gap.

McGavigan urges youth to embrace diverse opportunities: “Empower yourself with the right mindset, training and perseverance and now digital skills, too.” Framed by the UN’s WYSD theme, Rosond’s digital upskilling contributes to socioeconomic stability, empowering youth to innovate and drive growth in line with SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

A team of ten full-time trainers from accredited facilitators to assessors and moderators is now cross-pollinating digital skills across its four centres. Rosond seeks to close skill gaps, support client-specific needs, and reinforce its Zero Harm safety standard.

As South Africa faces a youth unemployment rate of 46.1%, Rosond’s blend of industry-specific training with digital skill-building is not just timely, it is necessary. On World Youth Skills Day 2025, the company’s expanding mission underscores a broader vision to equip youth not only for drilling roles, but for a digital-first economy and a resilient national workforce.