Pushing holistic approach to up-skilling

There are significant skills gaps in the freight forwarding industry and these need to be urgently addressed to ensure higher standards of service across the board. To that end, Metro Minds has introduced several new up-skilling initiatives. Director Juliette Fourie says it is not simply the basic literacy, numeracy, computer skills and general soft skills that are a “big question mark” for most entrants to the industry. She believes there is a wealth of knowledge in the industry but it is often highly specialised and these specialists are limited in their expertise and knowledge of the industry as a whole. “The lack of knowledge across the full spectrum of freight forwarding, customs brokerage and supply chain becomes a big challenge when dealing with traders needing solutions over and above the transactions of shipments from A to B. Sales teams across the industry lack certain basic operational knowledge and it’s difficult for them to then seal a deal.” Furthermore, Fourie says employers in the sector need to understand that there are “huge benefits” around the training and up-skilling of employees. Among the company’s up-skilling initiatives is its investment in a 10-station computer training room. In partnership with an accredited Microsoft Office and Seta provider, Metro Minds now offers computer training in Johannesburg. It has also introduced a bridging programme – Wise Minds – focusing on the small, yet significant, skills. It is designed to provide school-leavers with the necessary tools and skills needed to enter the workplace. The company is also currently working on the accreditation of four more qualifications and learnerships in the project management, freight handling, management and business arena. CAPTION Juliette Fourie ... several new up-skilling initiatives.