Social practices
The transformation strategy has gained momentum over the last year. The Group has continued to align its various transformation initiatives with the requirements of the B-BBEE codes, which in turn have been integrated into the planning and roll out of transformation initiatives.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
The training strategy continues to focus on a blended learning approach which offers both offline and online training opportunities. This is housed in the online Blue Label Academy.
This online facility offers all staff the opportunity to register and complete accredited courses via the e-learning portal. Staff have access to over 100 courses ranging from Microsoft-based training material to assertiveness training, and basic management skills. This offering means that all staff throughout the country have access to the same training material.
In support of the focus on developing and retaining technological skill sets, the staff in the technology division have dedicated access to the Safari Books technical training material. This enables them to have access to world-class training material on a flexible and individualised basis.
The offline training focuses on developing sales, customer service and leadership skills. Most of the senior and mid-level managers in the larger Group subsidiaries underwent a 12-month coaching programme. This is aimed specifically at enhancing leadership competence and providing them with skills to ensure that their teams remain focused, engaged and motivated.
The Group nominated eight candidates from mid and Senior Management levels, who had been identified for potentially taking up subsidiary board positions, for a Directors’ development course. The nine-month programme is aimed at providing participants with the skills necessary to acquit themselves at Senior Management and Board level. Incumbents were further supported by internal mentors and external coaching. The programme culminated in a report to the Blue Label Board.
The total training and development spend for the Group for the financial year totalled R3.9 million (2014: R5.4 million).
LEARNERSHIPS
The Group continues to support various learnerships via its partnership with Bytes People Solutions. This year 13 learners (2014: 240) were hosted within the Group’s subsidiaries. The decline was mainly due to the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the Services SETA not issuing any funded learnerships for Velociti for the review period.
Each learner is mentored through the period of their learnership. Of the 13 learners, four are disabled (2014: three), while 69% is female (2014: 60%).
| Subsidiary | Number of learners |
Skill set | Provider | ||||
| Cellfind | 1 | End-user computing | Bytes Technologies | ||||
| 1 | Contact centre NQF level 3 | Bytes Technologies | |||||
| 1 | Technical support | Bytes Technologies | |||||
| Cigicell | 2 | Accounting technician NQF level 3 | Bytes Technologies | ||||
| 1 | End-user computing | Bytes Technologies | |||||
| Blue Label Data Solutions | 2 | Contact centre NQF level 3 | Bytes Technologies | ||||
| 1 | End-user computing | Bytes Technologies | |||||
| Simigenix | 1 | System development | Bytes Technologies | ||||
| 1 | Contact centre NQF level 3 | Bytes Technologies | |||||
| Panacea Mobile | 1 | System development | Bytes Technologies | ||||
| 1 | End-user computing | Bytes Technologies | |||||
| Total | 13 |
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Group continues to focus on youth, education and HIV prevention programmes, and where possible, on projects where staff are actively involved. To this end the Group contributed R5.3 million (2014: R5.1 million).
This year saw the completion of the Group’s flagship SED initiative, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa (BGCSA) club house in Protea Glen. The club house was built using the environmentally friendly plastic bottle technology for its walling infrastructure. The 700m2 facility was completed in July 2015 and accommodates up to 400 children drawn from the surrounding community.
A number of Group SED beneficiaries are also collaborating in the project. Women and Men against Child Abuse provide a social worker, and Afrika Tikkun is planning to introduce its “Work Readiness Programme” among school leavers.
The club offers aftercare facilities to children of school going age where they are offered a meal, provided with supervision of academic activities, and exposed to various sports, such as basketball and netball, and other extramural activities in a safe and caring environment.
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
TPC continues to provide financial assistance and strategic support to ZOK, which aims to empower budding entrepreneurs from previously disadvantaged communities, by equipping them with a fully functional shipping container equipped as a retail solution provider.
Parkrun SA is a 50% black-owned business. The Group maintains its support for Parkrun SA, assisting both strategically and operationally. It has the objective of setting up venues throughout South Africa where all people, irrespective of race, gender, age, income bracket or fitness level, may come together once a week to run a 5km time trial, free of charge. Parkrun SA was established in 2011 in a venture between Bruce Fordyce and Blue Label, in addition to which Discovery Vitality and adidas are current major sponsors.
The Group was instrumental in establishing Marvellous Car Wash, a 100% black-owned entity, providing car valet and staff shuttle bus services at its head office. It recently expanded by securing the contract to wash cars at a neighbouring building to 75 Grayston Drive.
PREFERENTIAL PROCUREMENT
The Group continues to source goods and services from B-BBEE compliant suppliers, in terms of the B-BBEE Act.