The YES Top 35 Under 35 winners enjoyed a day of master classes at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Pretoria. (Photo: Dean Ndlovu) 
TFG’s partnership with YES shows how structured youth employment can strengthen transformation goals while developing the next generation of diverse leaders for South Africa’s retail industry.
Impact at a Glance
- Five YES programmes since 2021
- Over 5,800 work experiences created
- 74% of youth come from grant-recipient households
- 69% of youth support financial dependents
- 12% of alumni are engaged in entrepreneurial activity
When Thato Khubeka from Alexandra joined TFG as a fashion consultant at Jet, it was her first real step into the working world. Through the YES programme, she built her skills, gained confidence, and earned a permanent contract. Today, she enjoys a steady income, giving her financial stability and a sense of pride. Her journey mirrors that of thousands of young South Africans whose careers began through TFG’s partnership with YES – proof that inclusive talent development is transformation in action.
Building diverse talent pipelines
According to Stats SA, youth unemployment in South Africa sits at 46.1%. This, coupled with business’s responsibility to take an active role in addressing historical inequality is reflected in how TFG has incorporated transformation into its business model. As one of South Africa’s leading retailers, offering clothing, beauty, accessories, and homeware across multiple well-known brands, TFG integrates YES placements into its workforce strategy to strengthen transformation and drive measurable impact.
“Talent development is a key lever for transformation. We partner with YES to create pipelines for youth to move from entry-level to more senior roles, ensuring diversity and inclusion at all levels of the business,” says Senta Morley, Chief People and Culture Officer at TFG.
Strategic impact through transformation
TFG’s commitment to transformation is reflected in its approach to sustainable growth, talent development, and inclusivity. The YES programme is a cornerstone of that strategy, supporting the group’s Employment Equity and B-BBEE objectives while building a resilient, future-ready workforce.
The results are measurable. TFG has achieved a Level 2 B-BBEE rating, supported in part by YES’s contribution to youth employment and skills development. The retailer has expanded the reach of its programme from store placements to include contact centres, distribution facilities and manufacturing, demonstrating a holistic approach to career progression.
“We’ve evolved from placing YES youth originally only in stores and have expanded into contact centres, distribution centres, finance, human resources, Bash, IT and manufacturing. This growth reflects our commitment to developing talent across the business while advancing youth opportunities” says Morley.
From opportunity to career
The success stories emerging from the programme illustrate its power to create sustained transformation in practice. Former YES participants now hold supervisory and management positions across TFG’s retail network, many of them from underrepresented groups. Others have advanced into leadership roles in distribution centres, contributing to logistics efficiency and team management. In manufacturing, YES alumni play key roles in quality control and production, ensuring that transformation reaches every link in the supply chain.
Recognition and results
TFG’s partnership with YES has earned national recognition. The group is a three-time YES ESG Award winner at the ESG Africa Awards. Every year since 2023, the Group has been honoured as a Top YES Youth Job Contributor, receiving signed certificates from the Presidency.
These accolades underscore TFG’s ethos that transformation is a competitive advantage built on human potential. By investing in youth and aligning talent development with Employment Equity, the company strengthens both its workforce and its social impact.
Creating pathways for growth
TFG’s collaboration with YES demonstrates how a structured youth employment model can drive inclusive growth. The combination of training, mentorship and real career progression is changing lives and reshaping the workforce for the better.
It’s not just about jobs, it’s about creating sustainable, equitable pathways for growth,” says Morley.
As TFG continues to expand its footprint, its partnership with YES stands as a blueprint for how South African companies can align business needs with social progress, creating jobs, shaping futures, and building sustainable talent pipelines. DM