IMPERIAL Logistics Goes Beyond Compliance to Tackle SA Skills Shortage

IMPERIAL Logistics Goes Beyond Compliance to Tackle SA Skills Shortage

Johannesburg, South Africa, 14 April 2010 – IMPERIAL Logistics is proud to announce that 88 learners have been certified by its Learning Centre, for the successful completion of 2009 graduate development programmes, management development and other skills programmes. Graduates represented IMPERIAL Logistics operating companies across South Africa and those from neighbouring countries.

“It is a strategic business imperative to develop current and future skills at all organisational levels,” says Colette Wessels, IMPERIAL Logistics Training and Development Manager. “Centralised corporate training should balance the individual’s development needs and aspirations with that of the business.”

Wessels says, “Attracting, developing and retaining the right mix of people through commitment of funding and resources is critical. Furthermore, by honouring a commitment to skills development that goes beyond compliance with the National Skills Development Legislative framework, organisations can sharpen their competitive edge while proactively addressing South Africa’s skills shortage challenge.”

The IMPERIAL Logistics Learning Centre aims to develop a talent pipeline, through a variety of management and leadership development programmes, graduate and on-the-job development through sector-specific programmes, bursary schemes, apprenticeships, skills programmes and learnerships.

By covering all these bases, the company is able to nurture essential and scarce skills, deliver experience to workplace entrants and build industry intelligence.

Within the context of the logistics and supply chain industry, the recently published 6th State of Logistics™ Survey states, “We are not just short of people with skills, but of people with the right skills … If these skills shortages go unchecked, we just won’t be able to compete. We won’t be able to work effectively within organisations to ensure that functions work together seamlessly. We will not be able to work effectively across organisations to ensure that businesses collaborate for their own and the common good.” The 6th State of Logistics™ Survey can be downloaded at www.imperiallogistics.co.za/sol.

“Large companies, such as IMPERIAL Logistics have much to contribute to counter skills shortages within their sectors,” says IMPERIAL Logistics Chief Executive Officer, Marius Swanepoel, indicating that during the 2008/2009 financial year, training programmes were rolled out to over 7 000 employees across the Group.

Bursaries for employee family members and non-employee related students are a further vehicle through which IMPERIAL Logistics addresses skills development and transformation objectives.

The Group has an award-winning track record. During 2008, the company was granted the Good Practice in Skills Development award by the Ministry of Labour. In March 2010, it won three categories at the annual SAPICS awards, with one of these being the 2009 Corporate Educator of the Year.

“This is an acknowledgement of excellence relating to the number of employees at all levels who receive training, as well as the alignment of our training initiatives with national and sectoral skills development priorities,” he adds. “We encourage all of our IMPERIAL Logistics Learning Centre graduates to share their knowledge in a practical way, within their daily roles and responsibilities – challenging the norm if a more effective and efficient solution is needed.”

Business and people development must be aligned to effectively impact the talent pipeline for heightened corporate competitiveness. “Business cannot sustain itself without people and people cannot sustain their career growth without company investment therein. As responsible corporate citizens, it is up to us to shape industry learning curves,” concludes Swanepoel.

About Imperial Logistics
IMPERIAL Logistics is the leading logistics and supply chain management company in southern Africa with an international footprint in Europe. IMPERIAL Logistics Southern Africa provides customised value-added logistics services and supply chain solutions to blue chip customers in almost every industry. IMPERIAL Logistics is a division of the IMPERIAL Group and the southern African division is home to more than 70 operating companies, categorised into four key divisions, namely Transport and Warehousing, Consumer Products, Specialised Freight and Integration Services. IMPERIAL Logistics International focuses on European markets and comprises four operating units, namely Panopa Logistik, neska, Imperial Reederei and Brouwer Shipping. For further information, please visit www.imperiallogistics.co.za.

About the IMPERIAL Logistics Learning Centre
The IMPERIAL Logistics Learning Centre is the Group’s dedicated training and skills development facility. Skills Development initiatives that require a coordinated approach across the Group, as well as initiatives aimed at strategic and scarce skills are planned, implemented and monitored centrally from the Learning Centre. The Centre strives to provide operating companies with supplemental graduate, management, leadership, skills and career development programmes that contribute to heightened employee performance levels. IMPERIAL Logistics was recently awarded with the “Corporate Educator of the Year” award at the annual SAPICS awards. For more information, please contact Colette Wessels on telephone, +27 11 872 1600 or email: colettew@il.co.za.