RS South Africa, a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a leading MRO products and services provider for industrial customers, has strengthened its commitment to developing Africa’s future engineering and technology talent through its platinum sponsorship of the 2026 GirlCode Pan-African Hackathon, reinforcing the company’s global 2030 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ambition under its Championing Youth & Communities pillar.

The annual GirlCode Hackathon has evolved into one of Africa’s leading platforms for empowering women in technology, bringing together aspiring software developers, innovators and, for the first time in 2026, female tech founders to solve real-world challenges while gaining valuable industry experience. This year’s event will be hosted across multiple African countries, creating opportunities for thousands of young women to showcase their skills, collaborate with industry mentors and accelerate their careers in technology.

Supporting Africa’s future innovators

The initiative also forms part of RS’s global Engineers of Tomorrow programme, which brings together educational technologies, industry partnerships and skills development initiatives to inspire and equip the next generation of engineers, innovators and problem-solvers.

Education forms a cornerstone of RS’s global ESG strategy. Through its 2030 Championing Youth & Communities pillar, the company aims to reach one million young people with educational technologies, learning content and skills development while engaging 1.5 million engineers and innovators in creating socially responsible and sustainable solutions.

By supporting initiatives such as the GirlCode Hackathon, RS South Africa is helping to bridge the gap between education and employment by providing aspiring technologists with practical opportunities to develop the technical, problem-solving and collaborative skills that employers increasingly require.

Creating opportunities for women in technology

The GirlCode Hackathon addresses one of the technology sector’s most pressing challenges by creating opportunities for women to develop practical coding experience, build professional networks and gain exposure to industry mentors.

The 2026 programme represents a significant evolution of the initiative, pairing female tech founders with teams of female developers to build minimum viable products (MVPs), while simultaneously providing participants with valuable real-world experience and exposure to Africa’s growing digital economy.

As a platinum sponsor, RS South Africa joins a network of organisations committed to expanding opportunities for women in STEM fields while helping to strengthen Africa’s future technology talent pipeline.

Driving sustainable impact through partnership

“At RS South Africa, we believe that investing in education and innovation is one of the most meaningful ways to create lasting positive impact,” comments Erick Wessels, Sales Director at RS South Africa.

“The GirlCode Hackathon is an important part of our global Engineers of Tomorrow programme and aligns perfectly with our 2030 Championing Youth & Communities ambition. By supporting practical skills development and creating opportunities for young women in technology, we are helping inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators who will shape Africa’s future,” highlights Wessels.

He adds that partnerships between industry and educational initiatives are essential to building a more inclusive technology sector. “By working alongside organisations such as GirlCode, we can help nurture the next generation of engineers, developers and entrepreneurs who will create innovative solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing challenges. These are exactly the kinds of purpose-driven partnerships that support sustainable economic growth while creating opportunities for young people.”

Building Africa’s technology future

Beyond supporting the Hackathon itself, the partnership reflects RS South Africa’s ongoing commitment to building stronger links between industry and emerging talent.

As digital transformation accelerates across Africa, developing diverse technical skills and creating accessible pathways into engineering and technology careers will play an increasingly important role in supporting economic growth and innovation.

Through initiatives such as the GirlCode Pan-African Hackathon, RS South Africa continues to demonstrate how business can help develop the skills, confidence and opportunities that will empower the continent's next generation of technology leaders.