If you are a bricklayer, carpenter, electrician, or plumber who wants to turn your trade into a real business, the Allan Gray Startup Academy 2026 could be the right job-focused opportunity for you. This programme is not about classroom theory only. It is a full-time business incubation programme made for young artisans who want to work for themselves and earn a living through their skills. Over eight months, you are trained, guided, and supported to move from working with your hands to running your own trade business.
The Allan Gray Startup Academy 2026 is an eight-month programme that starts around mid-April 2026. It is run by Allan Gray Makers and is aimed at South African artisans who want to become business owners. The programme combines trade knowledge with business lessons, so you learn how to price your work, find clients, manage money, and keep your business running properly. It focuses only on four trades: bricklaying, carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing. If you work in one of these areas, this programme is built for you.
This opportunity is open to young people between the ages of 18 and 35. You must be unemployed or working for yourself, and you should not be studying full-time. To apply, you need to show that you have trade skills. This can be a completed trade test, an N2 Certificate with work experience, or at least three years of hands-on work in your trade if you are ready to take a trade test. You do not need to already have a business that is making money. You can apply if you are still planning your business, have started but are not earning yet, or are earning a bit but not making profit.
Applying to the Allan Gray Startup Academy 2026 is done online and follows clear steps. First, you should check that you meet the age, work, and trade requirements. After that, you need to gather your documents. These include your trade certificate or N2 Certificate if you have one, proof of work experience, a certified copy of your South African ID, and your matric certificate if you have it. Matric is helpful but not required. You also need an email address, because all updates are sent by email.
Applications open on 3 November 2025 and close on 30 January 2026 at 17:00 SAST. Once you submit your form through the Allan Gray Makers portal, some applicants will be shortlisted. If you are shortlisted, you will receive an email asking you to complete a questionnaire. This helps the team understand your interest in running a business and how serious you are about it.
If you pass the questionnaire stage, the next step is an interview. During the interview, you will talk about your background, your trade, and why you want to start your own business. You do not need fancy business words. You just need to be honest, clear, and ready to explain your plans. If you are selected, you will start the programme in mid-April 2026.
While you are in the programme, you receive strong support. There is a monthly transport allowance of R3,000 to help you attend sessions without worrying about travel costs. You also receive business training made for artisans. This includes learning how to plan your business, manage income and expenses, find customers, market your services, and understand the basic rules that affect trade businesses. You are not left alone. Mentors and trainers guide you, and you work alongside other artisans who are on the same path.
You do not need past business experience to apply. The programme is open to all genders, and it supports diversity. Even if you do not have matric, you can still qualify if you meet the trade and work requirements.
Many artisans struggle because they have skills but do not know how to run a business. This programme is designed to fix that gap. It gives you structure, guidance, and time to focus on building something that can support you and your family.
Applications are only open for a limited time, so it is important to prepare early. If this sounds like the right step for you, you can apply online using the official link below.
Apply now through the official Allan Gray Startup Academy 2026 application page
If you need more details, you can reach Allan Gray Makers on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or by email at [email protected]. You can also download the application checklist from their website to make sure you are ready before applying.
If you are serious about working for yourself and using your trade to build a steady income, this programme gives you a clear path to do that. Prepare your documents, apply on time, and take the next step toward owning your own trade business.
