Social practices
The Group continues to strive towards implementing sound initiatives aimed at creating a positive work environment aligned to the Group's strategy and transformation agenda. These initiatives embrace learning and development, talent management, social upliftment and health and safety.
Learning and development
The Group continues to adopt a targeted approach to learning and development. Staff are able to participate in learning and development opportunities in order to enhance their skills set and addressing development needs in the workplace. The latter is particularly evident in the technology division where the demands on technical skills and knowledge evolves at a rapid rate.
Staff utilise the Mytrack online portal to access all product-related materials and updates. To ensure that staff keep abreast of product development, they are required to complete one product-related module per month, the progress of which is accordingly monitored.
Other internal initiatives focus on developing middle and senior management. Programmes, facilitated by external professional coaches, cover leadership skills, effective communication, motivation, conflict resolution and strategic thinking.
In line with the revised B-BBEE scorecard, the Group allocates funds for the development of skills among black people. In a targeted approach, Blue Label has selected entrepreneurs from the informal sector, as beneficiaries of this initiative. In partnership with ESpaza Sum, a level 1 rated B-BBEE company, and Bytes People Solutions, 26 spaza shop owners in Mamelodi undertook an accredited training course on how to transform a spaza shop into a thriving business.
The Group has also partnered with Repassen 18 to offer unemployed youths an accreditation opportunity in the New Venture Creation learnership, which is registered through the Services Seta. Currently there are 30 students registered on the programme. On completion of the course in August 2018, learners will not only have a qualification, but also skills sets appropriate for establishing and operating their own ventures.
Learnerships
Blue Label invests in learnerships, recognising this as an opportunity to develop relevant skills for its resource pool. Currently there are 38 learners (2016: 14), 10 of whom are alumni of the Boys & Girls Club of South Africa, our flagship CSI project. Learners are registered with various SETA's ranging from financial administration, technological and systems support, end-user computing and contact centre certification.
Enterprise and supplier development
The Group supports three Enterprise and Supplier Development Initiatives.
1. ESpaza Sum
In addition to the development skills training referred to above, the Group provided financial support and expertise to ESpaza Sum for the refurbishment of the 26 spaza shops, the establishment of an effective buying group and the installation of a low cost, high impact, POS system. These outlets have now become the shopping destination of choice for many residents in Mamelodi and within a nine-month period, have reported an increase in total turnover amounting to R14 million. We have also been able to secure the supply of prepaid products and services to these shops on an exclusive basis.
2. The Marvellous Company
The Group outsources services such as the staff canteen and a car wash facility, to The Marvellous Company, which is level 1 B-BBEE rated. During the year the Myfitness initiative was piloted, which aims at utilising technology to measure healthy lifestyles. A formal launch will be held later in 2017.
3. Zok Cellular
The Group provides financial and strategic support to budding entrepreneurs through ZOK's retail container project. It is intended for the participants on the New Venture Creation learnership programme to graduate to the ZOK Cellular business of operating retail outlets.