Reference: 2026/27-DG-03

Overview

The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) invites eligible employers, sectoral associations, professional bodies, trade unions and federations, and accredited Skills Development Providers (SDPs) to apply for its 2026/27 Discretionary Grant funding window.

The funding supports learning programmes aligned with the Services SETA Sector Skills Plan, Strategic Plan, 2026/27 Annual Performance Plan and National Skills Development Plan 2030. These programmes aim to develop scarce and critical skills, strengthen workplace-based learning and improve the pipeline of skilled and employable people within the services sector.

Applications must align with the Sector Priority Occupations and Interventions List (SPOIL) and the hard-to-fill vacancies specified in Annexure A. Applicants may apply for a maximum of two learning programmes.

Funding and Support

Funding is provided in accordance with the Services SETA Discretionary Grant Policy and applicable unit costs for each learning programme.

The funding window supports learning and workplace-based training interventions, including:

• Learnerships for employed and unemployed learners.
• Apprenticeships.
• Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL).
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• Adult Education and Training (AET).
• Skills programmes for employed and unemployed learners.
• Candidacy programmes.

Funding allocations depend on programme eligibility, applicable unit costs, evaluation and the availability of funding. Submission of an application does not guarantee an award.

Purpose and Objectives

The funding window aims to:

• Address scarce and critical skills in the services sector.
• Support occupations identified as sector priorities and hard-to-fill vacancies.
• Expand workplace-based learning opportunities with host employers.
• Improve learner development, completion and certification outcomes.
• Strengthen skills development and employment opportunities for unemployed and employed learners.
• Support training aligned with national and sectoral skills development priorities.

Priority Areas or Scope of Work

Applications must focus on learning programmes and qualifications listed in Annexure A, aligned with the Sector Priority Occupations and Interventions List and hard-to-fill vacancies.

Available learning programme categories include learnerships, apprenticeships, artisan recognition of prior learning, recognition of prior learning, adult education and training, skills programmes and candidacy.

The specific qualifications, occupational programmes and applicant categories eligible for each grant type are set out in Annexure A.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants operating within the services sector include:

• Services SETA levy-paying and non-levy-paying employers.
• Sectoral associations within the Services SETA scope.
• Professional bodies within the Services SETA scope.
• Recognised trade unions and federations within the Services SETA scope.
• Accredited Skills Development Providers, where permitted for the relevant learning programme.

Eligibility varies by learning programme. Applicants must consult Annexure A to confirm which applicant categories may apply for each intervention.

Additional requirements include:

• Applicants must provide their Skills Development Levy (SDL) number as proof of SETA registration status where applicable.
• Applicants may apply for a maximum of two learning programmes.
• At least 90% of unemployed learners must be between 18 and 35 years old on the date of registration.
• All recruited learners must meet the minimum entry requirements for the selected programme.
• Projects awarded funding must commence within 60 days of the grant award.
• Applications must include all compulsory supporting documents, fully completed and signed where required, and valid at the time of submission.

Employers, sectoral associations, professional bodies and trade unions or federations applying for credit-bearing programmes with an external SDP must provide the required supporting documentation, including a signed Memorandum of Agreement, proof of accreditation and programme approval letters, and the SDP's relevant registration and tax compliance documents.

These grants are intended for entities wishing to train learners and host them at their companies, rather than training providers seeking funding to source business opportunities to offer their services.

Important Dates

• Opening date: 19 October 2026
• Closing date: 6 November 2026
• Submission deadline: 23:59:59 on 6 November 2026

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online through the Services SETA application system, following the submission instructions published on the official opportunity page.

Applicants must complete the required declarations and upload all compulsory supporting documents. Incomplete applications or applications missing compulsory documentation will be disqualified.

The following documents are required, as applicable:

• Active company or entity registration documents.
• Fully signed Declaration of Interest.
• Fully signed Declaration of Authorised Person.
• Fully signed POPI Declaration.
• Signed list of directors.
• Certified copies of directors' identity documents, certified within the preceding three months.
• Certified copy of the authorised person's identity document, certified within the preceding three months.
• Valid SARS tax clearance certificate or certificate of good standing with a valid One-Time PIN.
• Valid B-BBEE certificate or duly commissioned affidavit, where applicable.
• Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration.
• Letter of good standing for the financial provider.

Applicants should also consult the evaluation criteria, Discretionary Grant Policy, applicable unit costs and Annexure A before preparing their applications.

Preference may be given to applicants with successfully completed previous Services SETA-funded projects, programmes aligned with priority occupations and hard-to-fill vacancies, valid B-BBEE status, and projects located in designated priority areas. Supporting evidence must be supplied where required.

Industry / Sector

Skills development; education and training; workplace-based learning; occupational qualifications; learnerships; apprenticeships; professional development; services sector workforce development.

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