Reach your ESG goals: unlock youth potential with YES
4 min read
With growing emphasis on ESG and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), environmental and social impact are top of mind for both investors and consumers.
Sustainability is now measured not just by carbon metrics but by a company’s broader societal contribution, including job creation, community engagement, and inclusive growth.
The Youth Employment Service (YES) is the answer to aligning your ESG strategy with SDG 8: “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.” Using our innovative model, businesses support transformation, enable quality work experiences, and foster future professionals and entrepreneurs.
What is YES?
YES is the world’s largest 12-month, full-time youth employment programme funded entirely by the private sector. Through quality work experiences, we’re enabling businesses to drive meaningful change across sectors and provinces.
As a private sector-led initiative, YES empowers businesses to tackle South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis by creating quality work opportunities that unlock youth potential.
In return, businesses can gain up to two levels on their B-BBEE scorecards while embedding youth job creation into their ESG strategies.
YES in numbers
193,900+ youth work experiences created
R11.3 billion contributed to the economy through youth salaries
1,870+ corporate partners
3,000–4,000 high-quality jobs generated monthly
ESG with tangible impact
ESG goals often demand data, accountability, and action. YES delivers all three.
Through a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, YES tracks youth progress during and after their 12-month programme, giving companies real, reportable impact data.
By tackling youth unemployment, businesses demonstrate commitment to the “S” in ESG: social upliftment, economic inclusion, and future-facing growth.
Transforming sectors through meaningful work experiences
YES’s Implementation Partner Model is a turnkey solution that gives companies the opportunity to sponsor youth jobs outside of their own structures. These jobs are placed in high-impact sectors, including those critical to environmental sustainability.
Through this model, youth are placed with vetted host partners across the country, growing sectors including:
- Green economy & renewables
- Drones
- Digital & tech
- SMME support
Advancing impact through Youth4Business
YES’s Youth4Business initiative is driving social impact by empowering youth-owned enterprises in the creative, green, and digital sectors, putting the “S” in ESG into action. In partnership with Sanlam, the programme supports 60 high-potential youth-led businesses across South Africa with funding, legal and financial services, marketing support, and access to YES’s corporate network. By integrating these businesses into local supply chains, corporates can fuel inclusive growth, strengthen their ESG credentials, and contribute to sustainable job creation.
Be part of the solution
By sponsoring youth jobs, your business builds a more resilient economy while advancing transformation, inclusion, and sustainability.
It’s a win for youth. A win for your ESG strategy. A win for South Africa.
Join the movement. Co-create a sustainable future that works.
Visit yes4youth.co.za or contact corporatesupport@yes4youth.co.za to learn how we can support your ESG and transformation goals.
