Getting your first job as a millwright is hard when every employer wants experience you do not yet have. The ALPLA Millwright YES Programme offers you a real way to fix this problem right now. This 12-month opportunity at the Lanseria Plant gives you hands-on plant experience that textbooks cannot teach. Many young technicians struggle to find openings that accept fresh trade certificates. This programme is designed exactly for people in your situation.
What Is This Programme?
ALPLA runs a 12-month Youth Employment Services (YES) contract for junior millwrights. You will work inside a real manufacturing plant. The role pays a market-related salary.
You will support senior millwrights with mechanical and electrical maintenance. You will learn how to fix breakdowns, perform preventative maintenance, and keep machinery running safely. You will touch real equipment, solve real problems, and follow strict safety standards.
Who Can Apply?
You must meet every requirement below. Competition for plant maintenance jobs is strong, so check carefully.
- You must be between 18 and 34 years old.
- You must be currently unemployed.
- You must never have participated in a YES programme before.
- You need a Grade 12 certificate.
- You must hold a Millwright Trade Test certification.
- You should be comfortable using computers.
- You must be fully bilingual.
Previous experience helps but is not required. Do not let a lack of work history stop you from applying if you meet the trade test requirement.
What You Will Learn and Do
This programme builds your confidence through practical work. You will not just watch. You will participate.
Your daily tasks will include:
- Assisting with mechanical and electrical repairs on plant machinery.
- Helping senior staff during equipment breakdowns.
- Performing scheduled preventative maintenance.
- Learning to diagnose electrical and mechanical faults.
- Using CMMS systems like D365 to record work.
- Completing job cards accurately.
- Supporting equipment installations, upgrades, and commissioning activities.
- Following health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
- Reporting risks and unsafe conditions immediately.
- Maintaining clean and organized work areas.
These skills make your CV attractive to future employers in manufacturing, packaging, and industrial maintenance.
How to Submit Your Application
Follow these steps carefully. Mistakes in your application can cost you the opportunity.
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- Gather your documents. You need a clear, updated CV, a certified copy of your South African ID, your Grade 12 certificate, and your Millwright Trade Test certificate. Include any other technical certificates or proof of previous work if you have them.
- Check your contact details. Use a working phone number and email address that you check daily. Wrong details mean missed calls.
- Visit the official ALPLA recruitment portal at this link.
- Complete every field honestly. Upload clear, readable copies of your certificates.
- Submit once you have checked everything.
The advert posted on 25 May 2026 does not show a fixed closing date. YES programmes often close once enough suitable candidates apply. Do not wait. Apply today.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
Many applicants send generic CVs. You can do better.
- Place your Millwright Trade Test certification near the top of your CV. Employers scan for this first.
- Show any safety training or awareness you have. Manufacturing plants value safe workers.
- Give examples of teamwork. Maintenance requires trust and clear communication with supervisors.
- Prove you can work under pressure. Breakdowns happen fast. Mention times you met tight deadlines or solved problems quickly.
- Demonstrate reliability. ALPLA values candidates who create trust and respect in the workplace.
- Check your spelling and grammar. Errors suggest you lack attention to detail.
A strong CV shows practical technical interest, not just qualifications.
Your Next Step
This 12-month contract offers a clear pathway from classroom learning to plant experience. It gives you the practical skills that employers value when hiring for permanent technical roles.
You have the requirements. You know the process. Now take action. Prepare your documents, check your CV, and submit through the official portal today. Your technical career starts with this practical step.