SPAR / JumpStart

Youth empowerment

JumpStart: Preparing youth for the world of work

SPAR partners with Mr Price Foundation

In partnership with the Mr Price Foundation, SPAR supports JumpStart as a practical bridge between potential and employment.

The programme helps equip unemployed youth with the life skills, confidence, and workplace readiness they need to enter the YES programme and take meaningful steps towards permanent employment.

What is JumpStart?

Building skills, confidence, and opportunity

JumpStart is a youth work-readiness programme led by the Mr Price Foundation. It helps unemployed young people build the life skills and confidence they need to enter the workplace.

For SPAR, JumpStart plays an important role in preparing learners for the YES programme, helping them move from training into real workplace experience with stronger support from the start.

SPAR’s role in the JumpStart programme

SPAR supports JumpStart because young people need more than short-term placement. They need preparation, guidance, and structured pathways that help them stay, grow, and succeed.

Strategic programme partnership

Helping young people prepare for work and move into structured employment pathways.

Creating pathways to employment

Supporting unemployed youth with life skills and workplace readiness, to take the next step into the YES programme.

Long-term skills impact

By improving onboarding, training, and learner tracking, SPAR is helping more young people stay in the system and move towards lasting employment outcomes.

01

Life skills training

Participants receive foundational life skills and work-readiness training, including communication, personal development, workplace behaviour and confidence building. This phase helps prepare young people for the expectations of a professional working environment.

02

Retail-focused learning

Learners gain practical insight into the retail sector, including customer service, in-store operations and basic workplace processes. The training is designed to reflect real retail environments, helping participants understand day-to-day work expectations.

03

Improved employability

By completing the programme, participants are better equipped with the skills, confidence and readiness needed to pursue employment opportunities. The programme strengthens their ability to enter the job market and take meaningful steps towards sustainable livelihood.

From training to  opportunity

How the JumpStart programme works

Why JumpStart matters

Giving young people a helping hand into the world of work

For many young people, the first step into work is the hardest one. JumpStart helps make that step more achievable by building the confidence, readiness, and practical skills learners need before they enter the workplace.

SPAR’s support helps turn training into opportunity, and opportunity into a stronger chance of lasting employment.

Mr Price Group CEO, Stuart Bird

We are delighted that The SPAR Group has committed to continue partnering with MRP Foundation in furthering the Jump Start programme for another three years. Our shared vision and passion for the betterment of our society, through creating opportunities for the employment of our youth, will continue to make us more effective together than if we had tried to do this alone.