November 2016

In the past, we’ve learnt that people are the foundation of any business and building structures and cultures around your people is one of the only real proven methods of growing and expanding. However, developing people is different from creating a culture or installing systems and processes. Upskilling and education is one of the big challenges that South Africa is faced with today but many companies are making big efforts to provide for their people, pouring massive amounts of money into training and schooling. We should all know it; it was one of Nelson Mandela’s most famous quotes: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Featured this month is Oxford University Press SA and Freedom Stationery who are both intricately linked to education, and who will both play a part in the professional development of the country alongside elementary and further education. Then there’s the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), who are training people in preparation for the imminent investment into new nuclear facilities in the country. K Carrim, the Pretoria-based building material and property group, places a large emphasis on people development, Argon Asset Management sends employees overseas to train at ‘international speed’, and one of Africa’s largest employers, G4S, tell us about major projects to upskill and develop the workforce.

All of these programmes and schemes aren’t fruitless; apart from being morally applauded, they impact the bottom line. An educated and skilled workforce is obviously better for the consumer, and that’s the goal in business. Management and leadership speaker Simon Sinek said: “If you don’t understand people, you don’t understand business” and we think he’s right.

Tell us about your people development strategy. We’re always online @ LinkedIn.