Page 12 - KZN Business Sense 8.1

MISSING LINK IN YOUR B-BBEE SPEND

Sean Sharp, Executive Head of Sales, According to Sean Sharp, bring fresh skills and thinking the partial or full payment of Sean explains, “Our bursary
EduPower Skills Academy the executive head of sales at into your business, creating school, college and university candidates may not be
EduPower Skills Academy, a sustainable talent pipeline fees, the funding of textbooks and university graduates but they
anuary and February can be the fastest and simplest way that will ultimately add to your subsistence or accommodation have just as much to offer
some of the most stressful to make the required spend company’s success.” during the period of study, as well businesses. Bursaries give us
Jmonths of the year for and gain the available points is He adds that more companies as optional stipends that can be a greater ability to support
companies looking to retain or through bursaries. “With the have been investing in bursaries paid to bursary holders over the our clients by ensuring that at
improve their B-BBEE rating. limited time available before following the 2019 revisions to period of the bursary programme. the end of their programmes,
With the financial year-end financial year-end, the quickest the skills development targets in “These costs all count towards their graduates are truly great
looming, some businesses may and most effective solution to the B-BBEE codes. This change skills development spend and entrepreneurs, innovators and
be scrambling to make the make up any deficit you may requires large organisations it is commendable that as a leaders that have the practical
spend required to achieve their have in skills development with a turnover of more than result, so many more bursaries experience they need to be ready
skills development targets and spend is to invest in bursaries,” R50 million to spend at least are available. But there is a for the working world.”
thus, secure the maximum says Sean. “Life-changing for 2,5% of their annual ‘leviable missing link that still needs to Bursaries can unlock incredible
points for this priority element. the recipient, bursaries can amount’ (or payroll expenses) be addressed by the market,” opportunities for South Africa’s
on bursaries for previously says Sean. youth. Indeed, if bursaries could
disadvantaged people. “It’s a fact that companies be scaled, Sean believes they
“Companies that achieve this find it is easier to fund a can offer a viable and long-term
means of transforming our
spend requirement are rewarded handful of students at higher youth unemployment rates, our
with a total of four points on costs. There are, however, an
their scorecards, points that can increasing number of progressive workplaces, income inequality
and ultimately, our economy.
build a more equitable South organisations that are looking to
Africa as these have been set aside accredited training providers to “It’s entirely logical that
solely for bursaries for previously fund more competitively priced transformation and B-BBEE in
disadvantaged students at basic, qualifications, allowing them to the private and public sectors are
higher or tertiary education support more students and make closely aligned with the critical
Institutions,” Sean adds. an even greater impact.” need to provide quality education
The points are earned for Sean uses EduPower as an to as many young South Africans
as possible. By optimising the
expenditure on institution based example of just how life-changing
theoretical training – be it a this type of bursary programme bursaries available under skills
development, we can provide
degree, diploma or certificate – at can be. The majority of the the much-needed capital and
accredited training providers Academy’s bursary candidates are channels to meet these national
registered with the Department people with disabilities (PWDs)
of Basic Education or the and individuals who have proved goals and provide even more
opportunities for our deserving
themselves through learnerships.
Department of Higher Education.
Their bursaries have provided youngsters,” he concludes. 
The training costs that are them with a unique opportunity
Sean Sharp covered by bursaries include to develop even further. W: www.edupower.co.za

NURTURE A CULTURE OF ACTIVE E-LEARNING

Michael Gullan, CEO, G&G Advocacy of active learning may not be that is active and engaging. wasting learning opportunities 10. Multifunctional Planning
possible. But with a vision, Organisations that embrace and resources. Every day is an Involve a variety of teams,
ctive e-learning is an guidance and empowerment active e-learning are excited to opportunity for your teams to such as admin, HR, IT,
approach to online across functional teams, leaders cross thresholds. learn and grow. and department heads.
Ainstruction that actively are irreplaceably important for 4. Embrace technology 7. Flow Into Individual Organisations that have diverse
engages learners through making change happen. Avoid taking the joy out Assessments buy-in and involvement with
conversations, problem solving, There are 11 key factors that of learning with complex or Integrate your e-learning identifying objectives and
case studies, role plays and other are fundamental for successfully overlapping technologies. programmes with employee content opportunities enjoy
methods. Active e-learning growing a culture of active Rather make use of one assessments. Focus on the success in ways beyond what
places greater responsibility on e-learning in any organisation. tailored, learner-centric individual’s growth needs and any traditional learning can
the learner to engage, integrate platform, designed specifically correlate learning with their do. A top-down approach
and apply. 1. eLearning Advocacy for your organisation and for performance appraisals. that’s limited to finance and
Make the benefits and your learner’s easy adoption. procurement will never fly.
Why then is e-learning still outcomes of active learning 8. Showcase Successes
stagnant in so many of today’s widely known and understood, This dispels the stigma that Showcase e-learning success to 11. Budget Strategy
organisations? across all levels of employees. e-learning is clunky, boring, generate internal (and external) Create a planned financial
complex, or costly.
The one key ingredient to This will ignite a workforce that enthusiasm and enhance approach, from strategy
growing a culture of active wants to develop themselves – 5. General Adoption recruitment efforts, recognising to implementation to optimisation
e-learning in organisations and their organisation – and not Don’t limit your e-learning that today’s employees expect and growth, tying all phases
is a leadership team that think of learning as a task, but a programmes to just one learning opportunities within directly to employee and
recognises and promotes the passion. department. Smart e-learning their organisation. department success metrics and
purpose and value of active solutions can be used across all 9. Leadership Champions the organisation’s strategic plan.
learning. These are learning 2. Multiple Training Methods departments and all levels of Organisations are dynamic
champions who understand Transitioning to e-learning employees, laying a foundation Leaders who maintain a structures, forever responding
that continuous learning has can be challenging, let alone for growth. rigorous focus on active to internal and external factors
a greater role to play as it can to active e-learning. Develop 6. Align Deployment with learning and inspire others that need to evolve at breakneck
effectively overcome some of an organisational strategy that Business Objectives to become torchbearers play speed.
their organisation’s biggest includes incentives, and healthy a monumental role in the
There’s no denying that
challenges, and even assist in competition via gamification, Roll out e-learning success of robust e-learning learning and development
achieving their stretch goal. to ensure widespread cultural programmes to teams and programmes. In contrast,
change. departments that can make without leaders’ enlightenment across all levels of a business
Of course, no leader can do it the greatest impact first, and and involvement, HR and L&D are critical to its survival, let
alone. Without Human Resources 3. Innovative Culture then follow through with other teams are often blocked in their alone success, and the support
(HR) and administrative Motivate your staff to embrace departments. That way you will efforts to proliferate ongoing of its leaders is the only way to
champions as support, a culture this new way of learning get early results and reduce learning and development. ensure success. 

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