Accredited training helps forwarders’ BBBEE rating

THERE ARE several good reasons for
freight forwarders to ensure that their
training qualifications are aligned
with Teta-approved standards, among
them the add-on benefits in terms of
BBBEE rating.
“It has become common
practice for freight forwarders to be
called upon to submit their BBBEE
scorecards when tendering for
existing and new business,” says SA
Association of Freight Forwarders’
director of training, Tony d’Almeida.
And with the scorecard carrying a
skills development element which
is worth 15%, companies should
be analysing these requirements
carefully.
“Typically these points can be
acquired by detailing expenditure on
learning programmes and the number
of learnerships,” says D’Almeida.
The prerequisite, however, is
that they are supported by a Tetaapproved
Workplace Skills Plan (WSP)
and Annual Training Report (ATR).
“The complexity,” he added, “lies in
the WSP which requires that 50% of
all the planned training interventions
must be unit standards provided by
an accredited provider.”
Forwarders keen to obtain
maximum BBBEE scorecard points
for this training are advised to refer
to the details on the Saaff websitewww.
saaff.org.za.”
“Saaff has worked strategically
with the Teta and the South African
Qualifications Authority (Saqa)
over the past few years to bring
about a dovetail fit between the
locally-developed unit standards/
qualifications and the diploma
awarded by the world freight
forwarding body, Fiata,” said
D’Almeida.
It adds a lot of value, he said: “In
following this strategy you are killing
two birds with one stone – meeting
a Teta requirement which qualifies
your company for mandatory grant
tranche payments and contributing
towards your company’s BBBEE
scorecard rating.”