The Safe Transport Empowerment Programme (Step), an initiative by paper and pulp company Sappi and compliance professionals JC Auditors, will be available 100% online in 2022.
A statement issued along with the announcement said: “This will significantly extend the reach of the programme that is part of Sappi’s enterprise development work, aimed at equipping and resourcing small and medium-sized (SME) transporters with the tools to build safe and sustainable businesses.”
More than 20 transporters have completed the programme already.
Another 12 micro-transporters are currently busy with the course, which to date has been implemented in a blended format, with both virtual/online workshops and face-to-face engagements.
Oliver Naidoo, managing director for JC Auditors, said: “The online workshops were necessitated by Covid-19 protocols, but gave rise to the current project of hosting the course in a 100% online, on-demand platform, launching in the first quarter of 2022.
“This will make the programme far more accessible to small transporters who will be able to participate remotely and on-demand, an important development considering how difficult it can be to find time during a typical work day to get away from transport operations, especially for small transporters who play multiple roles.”
Naidoo, who recently facilitated a Step workshop in KwaZulu-Natal, heralds the programme as essential for improving safety in the small and micro transport industry.
“From our experience, we have seen that this segment of the market often gets into the transport business, but does not always have the knowledge and exposure to key technical, operational and safety requirements.”
The Step programme was initiated to bridge this gap and create a platform for new entrants, SME transporters, to enter the market with the fundamental safety processes in place.
