ILA helps groom next-generation freight leaders

International Liner Agencies’ second annual shipping internship and training programme for matriculants – due to kick off in March – has attracted double the number of applicants this year, says sales and marketing director of ILA, Raymond Cutts. Six learners successfully completed the inaugural programme. “It was established to promote and create awareness of the freight industry amongst school leavers,” said Cutts, “and includes a series of presentations to schools, identification of potential candidates, teacher guidance in the selection of potential candidates and one-on-one interviews for final selection.” The increased number of applications for 2013 is a good indication that the programme has already made headway in creating awareness of a career in freight, he added. ILA received funding from the Transport and Education Authority (Teta) to sponsor formal training for the six learners via MetroMinds, an independent tertiary education institute that specialises in long- and short-term training courses for the freight industry. As part of the programme ILA provides internships for the learners, mentored by Charlotte Watson, former operations and imports manager for the company. At the start of the programme the learners attend morning lectures and are tested on a weekly basis so that their understanding can be assessed. After three months they are placed in the various ILA departments on a weekly rotational schedule to ensure they each receive a comprehensive overview of the shipping industry. The students work five days a week, completing weekly assignments. ILA has employed one of the learners from the 2012 programme and three others have found employment within the industry, says Watson. CAPTION Charlotte Watson (centre) with the top two Gauteng graduates from the MetroMinds training programme in 2012, Matetshaba Moloi (right) and Conique Brown (left).