Volkswagen wins skills development award

VWSA's director of corporate and government affairs, Nonkqubela Maliza, was delighted at the news and said that the company would continue to strive towards employee skills development.

"VWSA not only focuses on employment equity and management matters pertaining to empowerment, but we have also invested heavily in skills development, training, education and enterprise development," she said, adding that the company had invested about R450 million in various training and skills development initiatives between 2006 and the end of 2011.

"This investment has benefited the company's employees, employees within the national vehicle dealer networks as well as members of the broader community. VWSA is honoured to have received this prestigious accolade and will continually strive to improve and further the development of our people."

The judging panel of 12 consisted of distinguished business people, including IBM SA's head of governmental programmes, Gavin Pieterse, MD of the Centre of Supplier Development, Molebatsi Moagi, and CEO of the Black Business Council, Xolani Qubeka.

A company with well-balanced skills development

"Volkswagen scored a 10 by our judges for its excellent efforts, at all levels, from adult literacy to technical skills. VWSA is a company with well-balanced skills development that accommodates all aspects of business," said Pieterse.

Moagi said the company's programmes were "in line with the learning programme matrix".

"Skills development spans across the entire Volkswagen Group organisation, from technical to leadership skills addressing skills shortages from ABET to production skills.

"They have excellent programmes in line with the learning programme matrix that exceeds the skills development targets and compliance requirements," he said.

VWSA's submission to the Oliver Awards included that it had set up various learning academies at its Uitenhage plant, as well as "a world-class small business incubator in Uitenhage".

"This incubator supports 16 small businesses and costs R5 million to run per annum," it said in the submission.

It also noted its commitment to youth development with the sponsoring of R20 million for the KwaNobuhle loveLife Y-Centre, which opened last year.