‘Now more than ever is the time to train’

During this recessive spell in the global economy, and with an eye on remaining keenly competitive when the business world revives, you have to keep concentrating on enhancing your company’s basic skills, according to Charles Dey of Global Trade Training (GTT). The alarming and unpredictable downturns in volumes that industries have recently experienced have resulted in less work. This, according to Dey, means staff having fewer demands on their time, and maybe spending more time on lower priority jobs or just “making work”. “Under these conditions the best employees, the ones who most enjoy being productive, are likely to become bored and frustrated,” he said. “This is the time for us to use that downtime to increase their skills.” Dey acknowledges that training is expensive. “However,” he said, “it’s not nearly as expensive as exposing the enterprise to the increasing risks of offshore-based, highlyskilled and cost-effective competitors in a rapidly diminishing market. It will also have a quantifiable benefit when the volumes come back, Dey added. “Employees who have been trained to levels of excellence will be able to function better and quicker, creating opportunities and making healthy returns on the training investments.” Training must be an on-going pursuit, Dey told FTW. “Indications are that many companies are seizing on this opportunity by intensifying their training efforts. By doing this, you get ahead.” And GTT will help you stay ahead, according to Dey. GTT will help clients access funding for training from the skills development levy, and enhance a company’s rating in broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) – which Dey stresses will be a key focus area for the newly elected parliament, according to government statements. “It is already a fact of SA business life that, in an increasing number of cases, major contracts are won or lost on BBBEE scorecard points,” he said. “One of the easiest ways to gain these points is through the Education and Training scorecard pillar.”