Citizens Development Business Finance PLC has partnered with the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority to introduce the STEP programme, offering school leavers structured apprenticeships with corporate training and nationally recognised qualifications.
Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) has entered into a collaboration with the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) to establish the STEP – School to Employment Programme, a structured apprenticeship initiative aimed at equipping young people with practical workplace skills and recognised qualifications.
The programme targets A-Level examination completers and young entrants seeking to transition into employment. Through the partnership, participants will gain hands-on corporate exposure, professional development opportunities, and nationally recognised NVQ qualifications while building an understanding of workplace dynamics. CDB describes the initiative as a pathway designed to attract and retain emerging talent while establishing an entry-level talent pipeline for integration into the broader workforce.
According to CDB's Chief Support Services Officer Nayanthi Kodagoda, the programme represents the organisation's commitment to professional development of younger generations. The initiative is framed as contributing to Sri Lanka's socio-economic progress by creating sustainable career pathways for school leavers transitioning into the corporate sector.
