IMPERIAL Logistics Receives Recognition for Investment in People

The Supply Chain Education Excellence Awards recognises organisations and individuals playing a key role in education and training within the supply chain sector of southern Africa. Leading logistics and supply chain management company, IMPERIAL Logistics, received three such awards at the ceremony hosted by SAPICS. The awards were presented on 11 March 2010, and acknowledge IMPERIAL Logistics' representation on, and active involvement in, national skills development structures, such as the SETAs (Sector Education & Training Authorities) and an array of professional bodies.

IMPERIAL Logistics tackles the increasing skills shortage in the South African logistics and supply chain industry, as well as unemployment, which is a significant challenge in the country. IMPERIAL Logistics won the "Corporate Educator of the Year 2009" category, which acknowledges excellence with regard to the number of employees at all levels of the organisation that receive training and the aligning of training initiatives with national and sectoral skills development priorities. The awards are testimony to the prominence that training and development has at IMPERIAL Logistics and the significant number of training initiatives offered, such as Learnerships, Apprenticeships, an array of Skills Programmes at all levels within the organisation, graduate development programmes, on-job coaching initiatives and bursary schemes.

Further, the company is represented on, and is actively participating in, various industry structures and professional bodies, such as the Association for Operations Management of South Africa, the Supply Chain Council and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. IMPERIAL Logistics CEO Marius Swanepoel says that the company continually has to renew its thinking and build its knowledge base. "This way, sustainable logistics and supply chain solutions are ensured, while creating value and serving the customers in the best way possible." Meanwhile, professional services company Volition Consulting Services, a member of IMPERIAL Logistics Group, won an award in the Operations Management Education Programme of the Year 2009 for its in-house course, devolitionSCP. The award acknowledges unique and innovative training programmes that not only contribute to overall education in the supply chain environment, but also add significant value and benefits to the individual and the organisation. Henricus Verhoef, employed at Volition, won the Student of the Year award for CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional). Henricus holds one of the highest scores in the world to date and the highest in Africa to date.

Swanepoel continues, "Upgrading skills and expertise and building capacity are critical business imperatives given that skills shortages remain one of the largest challenges that the industry faces. The International Certification courses from APICS are particularly important in a global village and these ensure that we are aligned to the latest thought leadership in the industry. In addition to the business benefits, participation in these courses is also an investment in our employees, who gain from a learning and development perspective regarding global developments and best practices in the supply chain industry. We then leverage this knowledge to the benefit of the business and our customers."

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 Africa 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 Volition Consulting Services

Volition's ideology is to passionately drive sustainable business improvement through applying the capabilities of our people, creating value for all stakeholders. As a professional services company, Volition offers specialist skills to address supply chain challenges. Volition employs more than 80 professionals who operate across Southern Africa. Its team is structured according to the skills required to support their clients' needs. Volition's expertise spans the end-to-end supply chain domain, including procurement, operations planning, distribution logistics and value chain integration. Their client base has expanded into all industry sectors, such as FMCG, Banking, Public Sector, Automotive and Mining Supply Chains, building long-term mutually beneficial relationships.

For further information, please visit www.volition.co.za