Master Builders Association

About Master Builders Association North

Master Builders Association North, known as MBA North, is an employers' organisation for the building industry. It is registered under the Labour Relations Act. Its members work in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. The association is based in Halfway House, Midrand.

Its roots go back more than a century. The Pretoria Master Builders Association was founded in 1903. Later, the Pretoria and Johannesburg bodies merged in January 1996 to form the Gauteng Master Builders Association. In 2012, that body was renamed MBA North. As an employers' body, it also speaks for builders when industry matters arise with labour and government.

How MBA North supports the industry and learners

MBA North helps contractors run safe, compliant and professional businesses. Its services include health and safety support, legal advice, BB-BEE guidance and training on site. For example, its "Training on the Move" service inducts members on building sites. The association also assists with employment equity reporting, workplace skills plans and liaison with SETAs.

Education sits at the centre of this work. The association promotes training courses, building and pricing guides, and specification support. In addition, it hosts annual awards that recognise excellent members and projects. These activities raise standards, and they create a pipeline of skilled people for construction.

For students, the main attraction is the link to the industry. Master Builders bodies in other regions have offered bursaries for building, civil engineering and construction management studies. We could not confirm the specific criteria, amounts or closing dates for an MBA North bursary. Therefore, treat any details you find elsewhere with care.

What to know before applying

First, contact the association or check its official website to learn whether a bursary intake is open. Ask which qualifications it supports, whether it prefers students from its four provinces, and what documents it needs. Funding for built environment studies is usually competitive, so a clear academic record helps.

Next, prepare the standard papers that most construction bursaries request. These normally include a certified ID copy, matric results, proof of registration or acceptance, and proof of household income. A short motivation about why you want a career in construction can also strengthen your case.

Finally, keep other options open. Many contractors and consulting firms in the region offer their own bursaries, vacation work and internships. If you study towards a diploma or degree in construction, you can also ask your institution about industry-linked support. Starting early gives you more choices. Your university's funding office may also know which construction employers and associations are recruiting bursary applicants.