Learnership schemes play a key role

In its training and development strategy, SACD Freight has made a big commitment to in-house schemes, according to MD Graham Peinke. It has introduced successful learnership schemes in co-operation with the the supervising body, the Transport Education and Training Authority (Teta). A policy in the company is to encourage all employees to obtain formal qualifications in the field in which they are directly involved on a daily basis. “The learnership schemes provide the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to support this objective,” said Peinke. But its training requirements also mean that the company has to look beyond its own doors. “We involve accredited training providers to transfer some of the skills that are required for the freight industry to our employees,” added Peinke. “The School of Shipping – an institution which focuses on the various functions that our company offers – also provides various short courses which are suitable for current and new employees.” The company has just started to focus on what it terms its Succession Planning Programme. “This is aimed at the growth and development of skilled workers,” Peinke told FTW, “and also serves the purpose of recognising those employees who have the potential to be promoted into those types of positions.” But SACD has found that there are still gaps in the available spectrum of training. “A reason for concern,” Peinke said, “is a lack of suitable training programmes to train future artisans needed in the industry – diesel mechanics, for example.”