Page 16 - KZN Business Sense 9.1

ICEBOLETHU GROUP’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

n keeping with the Icebolethu ■ Group Marketing Manager
Group’s tradition to start
Ievery year by hosting staff Other senior managers such
annual general meetings (AGM), as the general manager burials,
it has been the same for 2023. field manager, general manager
Icebolethu hosted staff AGMs business development and call
from the 10 January to the 19 centre manager each spoke on
January 2023 at the Inkosi Albert their respective channel days.
Luthuli International Convention Some of the sessions were
Centre (Durban ICC) and Hilton facilitated by business
Garden Inn for the KwaZulu- coach Paul Nzimande, with
Natal region, and The Maslow businessman and Pastor
Hotel for the Gauteng region. Sthembiso Mtshali being the
The company uses the AGMs guest speaker for most of these
to review the previous year and sessions. All the sessions were
communicate the vision and blessed by spiritual leaders
plans for the new year. the Durban ICC. Icebolethu Week Two clients by 2025; she made it including; Apostle KT Mkhize,
employees who have been part of
Icebolethu Group’s AGMs are the organisation for several years 17 January: Icebolethu burials clear that through caring for Pastor Senzo Myeni, Bishop
one of the most vital events in the took some time to reflect on the team and support staff their clients and sticking to the Dlomo and Pastor Chris
company’s events calendar as the journey and transformation of business ethos of zero-defect, Mathebula.
management gets an opportunity these AGMs as they were first 18 January: Non-permanent and this target would be made a At these AGMs, the
to interact with all Icebolethu held in civic centres. The decision casual staff reality. She gave an assuring organisation communicated the
staff members. The staff are to host them at the ICC was 19 January: Gauteng staff at the message to non-permanent addition of two new executives,
provided the opportunity to meet brought about by the growth in Maslow Hotel, Sandton staff that they are part of the namely the new Chief Financial
their leaders and ask important family and they must always Officer, Nqobile Khumalo,
questions regarding the business terms of number of employees. The messages shared across represent the brand with and the new Chief Operations
direction, human resource Today Icebolethu boasts over these AGMs was specifically pride. Mcoyi made a plea to Officer, Webster Chikengezha.
matters or anything related to 1 700 employees across KwaZulu- curated for each relevant channel. human resources that the
Icebolethu activities. For 2023, Natal, Gauteng, part of Eastern The business has set itself targets casual staff should always Icebolethu Group is set to be
the AGMs were launched by a Cape, Mpumalanga and the for each channel which are based be made aware of vacancies one of Africa’s most reputable
full day management committee United Kingdom. on service excellence, customer- within the organisation. She brands and the management
(MANCO) session where Icebolethu staff were organised centric, being a caring employer, also re-emphasised her vison ensured that everyone of their
Icebolethu executives and senior through the following groups for socially responsible and a to re-position Icebolethu as team understand the vision
management congregated at the AGM profitable business. a Christian organisation and and is part of their journey. 
the Hilton Hotel Umhlanga. Week One Icebolethu Group CEO, launched a pledge that was read
MANCO is one of the official at all AGM sessions. W: www.icebolethugroup.co.za
decision-making bodies within 10 January: MANCO – Hilton Nomfundo Mcoyi spoke at all
Icebolethu Group and consists Hotel, Umhlanga the AGMs where she shared Icebolethu managers that spoke
of general managers, regional 11 January: Branch staff the vision for the organisation at all the AGMs include the;
managers, executives and other (Financial Services) and took the entire work force ■ Managing Executive for Core
channel heads. 12 January: Second group of in confidence on the current Business
standing of the business. Mcoyi
The KwaZulu-Natal segments financial services staff; call centre communicated the business ■ Group HR Manager
of the AGMs were hosted at and field consultants target to reach one million ■ Group Risk Manager

CAN THE BPO INDUSTRY MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO

UNEMPLOYMENT?

Rajan-Naidoo, Director of and close the skills gap, it is not firm Ryan Strategic Advisory, the of a learnership is that they lack then feed into contact centres at
EduPower nearly enough, and they cannot country was ranked first after work experience, which is one of clients upon graduation or even
do it alone. Couple that with three consecutive years in second the most important criteria for start their own businesses and go
T he scourge of South Africa’s rapidly declining place, as the most preferred prospective employers. Edupower on to employ others.”
has overcome this obstacle
economy and our current growth
offshore location for call centres
Edupower is upbeat about
by providing learners with
worldwide.
outlook for 2023 forecasted by
unemployment, Bloomberg at a mere 0.3% quarter “Edupower focuses primarily “on-the-job” training, apart the future opportunities for
sustainable employment that can
particularly youth on quarter, the chances of finding on accredited skills development from classroom learning. This be created in the BPO industry.
unemployment, employment, even with accredited for the BPO sector and frees is achieved by the Academy They cite their latest project in the
continues training, are minimal. clients who outsource their skills emulating a contact centre Northern Cape town of Kuruman,
unabated in Is there a solution that can make development to the company, environment with learners being where together with their mining
South Africa, an impact by creating more job of the burden of meeting their allocated to live BPO campaigns client, they successfully created a
which has opportunities? “Yes,” says Naidoo. annual mandate from government for clients, in areas such as contact centre to upskill 40 local
one of the “This is where Business Process in terms of its administration and customer services and lead people with disabilities. “This
highest unemployment rates Outsourcing (BPO)/Contact delivery,” explains Naidoo. “We generation, under the guidance is an example of what can be
globally. Opportunities for Centres, one of the few growth offer twelve-month accredited and support of mentors. “This achieved when all stakeholders
meaningful unemployment sectors in South Africa, comes in learnership programmes to model allows our learners to not work together to transform
for women and people with and can play a significant role in develop relevant BPO technical only gain real work experience but the lives of those who have
disabilities are even more dismal creating a win-win solution for all skills, however, this is only part to develop their self-confidence,” lost all hope of employment.
and the overall unemployment stakeholders.” of the upskilling learners receive. says Naidoo. “Furthermore, Business wins, government wins,
figure for the country in the third Through Edupower’s Mentorship learners are taught and expected communities win but the biggest
quarter of 2022 was 32.9%. South Africa has become among programme, they are coached to conform to the expected norms winners of all are our youth. That
the top-rated BPO emerging of a business environment at the
According to Rajan Naidoo, markets globally in recent years, on soft skills that are key to the Academy such as keeping business is Edupower’s vision and what
managing director of EduPower its further growth hampered only industry, together with basic hours, office etiquette etc. By drives us in our desire to make a
Skills Academy, despite the by the availability of youth with business skills that will prepare providing them with accredited real difference in the lives of those
government spending millions the requisite skills. In fact, based them for the world of work.” skills and work experience as part who so desperately need it,” he
on training and development on the 2021 annual Front Office One of the difficulties faced by of a robust skills development concludes. 
through grant funding to try BPO Omnibus Survey by global many learners upon completion programme, many of our learners
www.edupower.co.za

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