Cargo Carriers addresses skills shortage head-on

The skills shortage is a major handbrake on business growth in Africa, but companies are increasingly realising the only way to counter it is to train themselves. And with the revised B-BBEE codes that come into effect in 2015 making skills development a focus area for South African business in particular, it is an area that business will be looking at more and more. Companies like Cargo Carriers have recognised that taking responsibility for training and skills development is vital to long-term sustainability and expansion. Shortage of skills is perhaps the most important factor holding back growth – not only in South Africa but across the continent – and the most effective solution is for companies themselves to invest in training and skills development directly, says divisional marketing director of Cargo Carriers, Andre Jansen van Vuuren. “After rising fuel costs, the shortage of skills is the major challenge faced by road-freight service providers,” he said. “That’s why Cargo Carriers is really enforcing training and skills development. We have been proactively engaged with the problem for several years. With the demise of the apprenticeship system, there has been little choice.” And he sees the skills deficit as a challenge from a technical as well as a managerial perspective. “The shortage of technical skills affects general operational efficiency – our aim is to train technicians to a level that increases productivity and SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality) standards. In the management area, it’s a businesssustainability issue. It’s about managing a growing business, bringing people up from base level so they really understand the culture of the company. It’s about producing managers with Cargo Carriers in their blood.” The policy is already bearing fruit. The first management trainee has been placed within the group. “We’ve also had our first group of five diesel mechanic apprentices come through the training programme,” says Van Vuuren. “Two of them have successfully passed their exams, and are now qualified diesel mechanics. Diesel mechanics – technical personnel in general – are a major issue for us. There is most certainly a shortage of qualified diesel mechanics and when you do find them, they come at a very high cost. So the apprenticeships that we are funding can only prove fruitful for us in the future.” The company applies the same principle to management training. “We currently employ eight trainee managers,” said Van Vuuren. “They all have a tertiary education, whether it’s a transport diploma or even a degree in logistics or supply chain. These trainee managers undergo training in every aspect of the business – marketing and sales, operations, technical, admin and finance. The third programme is a 24-month audit learnership programme in conjunction with the Institute of Internal Auditors, to offer employees the relevant training within the internal audit and risk function.” INSERT & CAPTION After rising fuel costs, the shortage of skills is the major challenge faced by road-freight service providers. – Andre Jansen van Vuuren