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BLUE LABEL INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2015
SOCIAL PRACTICES
The transformation strategy has gained momentum
over the last year. The Group has continued to align
its various transformation initiatives with the
requirements of the B-BBEE codes, which in turn
have been integrated into the planning and roll out
of transformation initiatives.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
The training strategy continues to focus on a
blended learning approach which offers both offline
and online training opportunities. This is housed in
the online Blue Label Academy.
This online facility offers all staff the opportunity to
register and complete accredited courses via the
e-learning portal. Staff have access to over
100 courses ranging from Microsoft-based training
material to assertiveness training, and basic
management skills. This offering means that all staff
throughout the country have access to the same
training material.
In support of the focus on developing and retaining
technological skill sets, the staff in the technology
division have dedicated access to the Safari Books
technical training material. This enables them to
have access to world-class training material on a
flexible and individualised basis.
The offline training focuses on developing sales,
customer service and leadership skills. Most of the
senior and mid-level managers in the larger Group
subsidiaries underwent a 12-month coaching
programme. This is aimed specifically at enhancing
leadership competence and providing them with
skills to ensure that their teams remain focused,
engaged and motivated.
The Group nominated eight candidates from mid
and Senior Management levels, who had been
identified for potentially taking up subsidiary board
positions, for a Directors’ development course. The
nine-month programme is aimed at providing
participants with the skills necessary to acquit
themselves at Senior Management and Board level.
Incumbents were further supported by internal
mentors and external coaching. The programme
culminated in a report to the Blue Label Board.
The total training and development spend for the
Group for the financial year totalled R3.9 million
(2014: R5.4 million).
LEARNERSHIPS
The Group continues to support various learnerships
via its partnership with Bytes People Solutions. This
year 13 learners (2014: 240) were hosted within the
Group’s subsidiaries. The decline was mainly due to
the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the Services SETA not
issuing any funded learnerships for Velociti for the
review period.
Each learner is mentored through the period of their
learnership. Of the 13 learners, four are disabled
(2014: three), while 69% is female (2014: 60%).