Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programmes 2026 / 2027: Retail, Butchery and Bakery Training
Unemployed South Africans with Matric can apply for Pick n Pay’s UIF Skills Programmes 2026 / 2027, which combine online learning with practical experience inside Pick n Pay stores.
The programmes run for six to 12 months and cover several retail career streams, including general store operations, health and beauty, butchery, bakery and food preparation.
Applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old, currently unemployed and willing to work retail trading hours.
Who can apply?
Applicants must:
- Have Grade 12 / Matric
- Be between 18 and 40 years old
- Be South African citizens
- Be currently unemployed
- Be interested in retail, customer service or food
- Be willing to work retail trading hours
- Have good communication skills
- Have good teamwork skills
- Be committed to completing a six to 12-month programme
How does the Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programme work?
The programme follows a blended learning model.
Participants can expect a combination of:
- Online learning
- Structured development
- Practical in-store experience
- Coaching
- Workplace support
- Exposure to retail operations
This approach allows participants to learn retail concepts while also applying them in a working store environment.
What will participants gain?
Depending on the stream, participants may develop skills in:
- Customer service
- Merchandising
- Retail operations
- Product knowledge
- Food preparation
- Butchery
- Bakery production
- Sales
- Teamwork
- Workplace communication
The programme is designed to build practical skills that can support future employment in the retail sector.
What is the All Rounders stream?
The All Rounders stream gives participants broad exposure to different areas of store operations.
You may gain experience in:
- Customer service
- Merchandising
- Frontline retail
- Different store departments
This stream is suitable for applicants who want general retail experience rather than specialising immediately in one area.
What is the Health & Beauty Heroes programme?
The Health & Beauty Heroes stream is aimed at applicants interested in health and beauty retail.
Participants may develop:
- Product knowledge
- Customer engagement skills
- Sales ability
- Merchandising skills
- Retail experience
This stream is suited to applicants who enjoy working with customers and learning about health and beauty products.
What is the Mastercut programme?
The Mastercut stream focuses on practical butchery skills.
Participants may gain:
- Butchery training
- Food retail experience
- In-store practical exposure
- Specialist food-handling skills
This stream is particularly relevant to applicants interested in building a career in food retail and butchery operations.
What is the Freshrize programme?
The Freshrize stream focuses on baking and food preparation.
Participants may gain experience in:
- Bakery production
- Food preparation
- Customer service
- Practical food retail operations
It is suited to applicants who want practical exposure to fresh-food departments and bakery environments.
Will you work directly with customers?
Yes. Customer service forms part of several programme streams.
You may learn how to:
- Assist customers
- Communicate professionally
- Answer basic product queries
- Support frontline store operations
- Work effectively as part of a retail team
Strong communication and a customer-focused attitude will be important.
Will you gain merchandising experience?
Yes. Merchandising exposure may form part of streams such as All Rounders and Health & Beauty Heroes.
This can include learning how products are:
- Organised
- Displayed
- Presented to customers
- Maintained within store departments
Merchandising plays an important role in both customer experience and retail sales.
What documents should you prepare?
Applicants should prepare:
- Updated CV
- Certified copy of South African ID
- Certified copy of Matric certificate
- Copies of additional qualifications, where applicable
Make sure your contact and qualification information is accurate before submitting the application.
What are the programme details?
Employer: Pick n Pay
Programme: UIF Skills Programmes 2026 / 2027
Location: South Africa
Duration: Six to 12 months
Learning model: Online learning and in-store practical experience
Minimum qualification: Grade 12 / Matric
Age requirement: 18 to 40
Employment status: Applicants must be unemployed
Career streams: All Rounders, Health & Beauty Heroes, Mastercut and Freshrize
No fixed closing date has been announced, so applicants should apply while the programme is open.
How do you apply?
Applications must be submitted online through the Pick n Pay careers portal.
Apply for the Pick n Pay UIF Skills Programmes 2026 / 2027
Before applying, make sure your CV clearly reflects your Matric qualification, customer-service interest and any previous exposure to retail, food preparation, sales or teamwork.
