Are you unemployed and looking for an opportunity to gain retail work experience? Pick n Pay is offering a UIF Skills Programme for Pick n Pay Hypermarkets in South Africa.
The programme runs for 6 months and provides a R2,000 monthly stipend. Participants will receive structured learning, practical workplace experience and coaching while working in a retail environment.
The opportunity is open to eligible South African citizens aged 18 to 40 years who have completed Grade 12.
Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme 2026
The Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme is designed to help unemployed people develop practical skills and gain workplace exposure in the retail sector.
The programme combines online learning with practical in-store experience, allowing participants to learn while gaining exposure to real retail operations.
Programme Details
| Programme | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Pick n Pay |
| Programme | UIF Skills Programme – Pick n Pay Hypermarkets |
| Reference | JR105826 |
| Location | South Africa |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Stipend | R2,000 per month |
| Learning model | Blended learning |
| Practical training | In-store |
| Education | Grade 12 |
| Age | 18–40 years |
| Citizenship | South African citizen |
| Employment status | Currently unemployed |
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for the programme.
You should:
- Have Grade 12.
- Be between 18 and 40 years old.
- Be a South African citizen.
- Be currently unemployed.
- Have an interest in food, retail and customer service.
- Be willing to work retail trading hours.
- Be available to work weekends and public holidays when required.
- Have good communication skills.
- Be able to work as part of a team.
- Be committed to completing the full six-month development programme.
Applicants should make sure they meet the requirements before submitting an application.
What Will Participants Gain?
The Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme provides participants with more than classroom learning.
Successful participants can gain:
- Structured learning.
- Practical workplace experience.
- Coaching from experienced Store Mentors.
- Customer service skills.
- Retail operations knowledge.
- Workplace exposure.
- Merchandising experience.
- Ongoing support and development.
- Skills that can assist with future employment opportunities.
The practical component takes place in a Pick n Pay store environment, giving participants an opportunity to understand how retail operations work.
Pick n Pay Career Streams
Applicants can choose from different career streams depending on their interests.
1. MASTERCUT – Butchery Talent
The MASTERCUT stream is aimed at people who are interested in food and butchery.
It is suitable for applicants who enjoy working with their hands and want to develop specialist butchery skills.
Participants can gain:
- Specialist butchery skills.
- Practical in-store experience.
- Workplace exposure in the retail food industry.
- Knowledge of butchery operations.
- Skills that can support future career opportunities in food retail.
2. FRESHRIZE – Bakery Talent
The FRESHRIZE stream focuses on developing bakery skills.
It is aimed at people who have an interest in baking and food preparation and would like to learn in a real retail environment.
Participants can gain:
- Bakery production skills.
- Food preparation experience.
- Customer service skills.
- Practical workplace exposure.
- Experience working with bakery teams.
3. ALL ROUNDERS – Retail Frontline Talent
The ALL ROUNDERS stream provides exposure to different areas of retail.
This can be useful for applicants who want to understand different aspects of store operations rather than focusing on one specialist department.
Participants can gain:
- Customer service skills.
- Merchandising experience.
- Frontline retail knowledge.
- Exposure to different store departments.
- Practical store operations experience.
4. HEALTH & BEAUTY HEROES
The HEALTH & BEAUTY HEROES stream focuses on developing the next generation of health and beauty retail advisors.
Participants can develop:
- Health and beauty product knowledge.
- Sales skills.
- Customer engagement skills.
- Merchandising experience.
- Practical retail experience.
Documents Required
Applicants must attach the required supporting documents when applying.
Prepare the following:
- Updated CV.
- Certified copy of your South African ID.
- Certified copy of your Matric certificate.
- Copies of additional qualifications, if applicable.
Make sure that your documents are clear and easy to read before uploading them.
How to Apply for the Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme
Applications are submitted online through the official Pick n Pay careers platform.
Step 1: Prepare your documents
Make sure your CV and required certified documents are ready before starting your application.
Step 2: Visit the official application page
Go directly to the Pick n Pay Workday application page for UIF Skills Programme – Pick n Pay Hypermarkets, reference JR105826.
Apply Online for the Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme
Step 3: Complete your application
Enter your information accurately and complete all required sections.
Step 4: Upload your documents
Attach your CV, certified ID, certified Matric certificate and any additional qualifications where applicable.
Step 5: Submit your application
Review your information before submitting the application.
Important Things to Know
This is a six-month skills development programme, not a permanent job offer.
Participants receive a R2,000 monthly stipend during the programme according to the advertised opportunity.
Applicants must also be prepared to work retail trading hours, including weekends and public holidays.
The programme is intended to provide practical experience and skills that may help participants pursue future employment opportunities.
However, participation in the programme should not be interpreted as a guaranteed permanent position with Pick n Pay.
Why This Programme Could Be Useful
Finding your first job can be difficult when employers ask for previous experience.
A structured skills programme can help unemployed applicants build workplace experience while developing practical skills.
The Pick n Pay programme combines learning with actual store exposure. This can help participants improve their understanding of customer service, retail operations, merchandising and specialist departments.
The different career streams also allow applicants to focus on areas that match their interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme?
The programme runs for 6 months.
How much is the stipend?
Successful participants receive an advertised stipend of R2,000 per month.
What qualification is required?
The minimum educational requirement listed for the programme is Grade 12.
What is the age requirement?
Applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old.
Can employed people apply?
The programme is intended for applicants who are currently unemployed.
Do I need to be a South African citizen?
Yes. The listed requirement is that applicants must be South African citizens.
Will I receive practical work experience?
Yes. The programme uses a blended learning model that combines online learning with in-store practical experience.
Which career streams are available?
The advertised streams are:
- MASTERCUT – Butchery
- FRESHRIZE – Bakery
- ALL ROUNDERS – Retail frontline
- HEALTH & BEAUTY HEROES – Health and beauty retail
What documents do I need?
Applicants should prepare an updated CV, certified South African ID, certified Matric certificate and copies of additional qualifications where applicable.
Beware of Job Scams
Job seekers should be careful when applying for opportunities advertised online.
Always use the official Pick n Pay careers platform when submitting your application. Do not pay anyone who claims they can guarantee you a place in the programme.
Never share your banking PIN, passwords or other sensitive account information with someone claiming to be a recruiter.
Conclusion
The Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme – Hypermarkets offers unemployed South African citizens an opportunity to gain practical retail experience while completing a six-month development programme.
The programme requires Grade 12, is open to applicants aged 18–40, and offers an advertised R2,000 monthly stipend.
With career streams covering butchery, bakery, frontline retail, and health and beauty, applicants can develop skills in an area that matches their interests.
If you meet the requirements, prepare your documents and submit your application through the official Pick n Pay careers platform.
Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme Reference: JR105826
APPLY ONLINE – Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme





