Businesses need to make training a priority, working not only with B-BBEE consultants but with skills development facilitators and importantly, outsourced training partners. Picture: Thobile Mathonsi.
By: Daniel Orelowitz
Broad-based B-BBEE is a prerequisite for doing business in South Africa, and training forms a significant portion of the B-BBEE scorecard. However, training is also critical to help address the skills shortage in the country that is only growing as we move into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Businesses need to make training a priority, working not only with B-BBEE consultants but with skills development facilitators (SDFs) and importantly, outsourced training partners. This ensures organisations can tick all the boxes while also developing skills they need in order to create a competitive edge and maintain focus on their core business.
Pieces of the puzzle
Many businesses make use of a B-BBEE consultant to assist with identifying requirements for the B-BBEE scorecard. This includes training on priority skills. An SDF can then engage with the business to identify skills shortages and requirements, and create a skills programme. The SDF will endeavour to marry required skills with B-BBEE priority skills to create the best blend to achieve both business and B-BBEE benefits.
However, neither of these providers actually deliver the training required. In addition, there is such a broad range of skills that may be required, from either a business or compliance perspective, that it is impossible to deliver everything in-house. No single organisation can be an expert in their core business as well as every facet of skills training they need. This is why it’s advisable to obtain the services of expert, accredited third-party training partners, that will tailor training programmes to meet skills development and B-BBEE goals.
Skills development benefits everyone
Training makes up 20% of the B-BBEE scorecard, and is a significant part of compliance. In addition, even if all other elements score high enough to raise a company’s B-BBEE level to, for example, Level 2, if their training does not obtain at least eight out of the 20 available points, they will automatically drop to Level 3. This can affect many elements of business, including tenders and contracts. It’s necessary to spend a certain amount of turnover on training and improve the skills of a specific percentage of staff, in order to achieve this.
However, training should be about more than just a compliance exercise. Certain sectors, such as mining, need to engage in community development programmes, and working with SDFs and training providers can help upskill these communities. This in turn provides skills development and workplace experience, helping to address some of the underlying socio-economic inequalities we face.
Training staff in the right areas improves not only their skills, but their productivity levels. There are many forms this training can take. The most common is learnerships, which provide a full 12-month qualification with both theory and practical experience. Not only do learnerships match companies with the skills they need, they also provide opportunities for learners without previous formal qualifications to obtain one and further their career prospects. In addition, there are skills programmes, part qualifications, apprenticeships and short courses like first aid and health and safety, which can be matched to the needs of the business.
The right partner is key
While many organisations have some training in-house, it’s simply not possible to maintain the resources capable of delivering training on everyelement required for B-BBEE, compliance or business improvement.
Partnering with accredited training providers through B-BBEE consultants and SDFs can ensure that the right skills are transferred, at the appropriate level, adding business value. Organisations will be able to focus on their core business, while having peace of mind that training is up to date and that B-BBEE compliance and skills development are taken care of.
Skills should always be a top priority for every company. Even if budgets are tight, there are creative ways to make sure training is cost effective, if you engage with the right partner.
Daniel Orelowitz is the executive director at B-BBEE Skills Solutions at Training Force
*The views expressed here are not necessarily those of IOL or of for title sites.
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