Executive leadership at Hands on Treatment, an established Mobile Massage Company based in Johannesburg, say the company’s ongoing Training and Skills Development Programme is making a meaningful difference to the country’s socio-economic development by focusing on the plight of unskilled, urban women.

Running alongside its core operation of mobile on-site massages targeting the corporate marketplace, Hands On Treatment has lived up to its name and taken a proactive stance to the development of skills sets that make individuals more employable.

The company’s in-house training programme for ten years and have a partnership in place with the Services SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority). According to the terms of the partnership the Authority pays a portion of their salary per intern and Hands on Treatment takes in four candidates as trainee therapists per six-month period.

Applicants are predominantly urban women living in informal settlements located within a 20km radius of Craighall, Johannesburg, as well as city centre and Braamfontein.

“The availability of skills is a huge problem,” states Martina Laurie, Chief Executive Officer, Hands on Treatment. “However, we are working on this and to date, we have helped over five hundred women secure an income.”

Although Hands on Treatment would like to accommodate as many people as possible, the company is forced to lay down criteria for would-be applicants and relies heavily on referrals concerning new applicants.

“Most of the interns come via word-of-mouth, referrals is a must. Candidates must have matriculated and a beauty school qualification would be a plus,” Laurie adds.

The strategy does work and to illustrate, Laurie speaks of one candidate, called Aida, who worked as a cleaner at the company in 2005 and has worked hard to secure a position as the guest house assistant manager.