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.”