Social practices

This year saw the launch of the Blue Label Academy, an internal on-line training academy aimed at providing training and development to all staff regardless of where they are located in South Africa. Each staff member was issued with two licences for the year, which entitled them to access two courses and complete them on-line, at their own pace and time. Staff registered for either a business skills or a technical course, depending on their individual requirements, which was duly approved by their line manager and included in their performance assessment for the financial year.

In addition to the e-learning initiative, relevant staff were also given the opportunity to register and complete formal classroom based training. Average training per employee amounted to 17.1 hours.

The group has continued its partnership with Bytes People Solutions in providing various learnership programmes across the group as detailed in the table below.

Group learnerships

The total number of learners currently employed within the group is 33 (2011: 30 learners). Each learner is mentored and assisted through their learnership to ensure that it is completed successfully and the learner obtains the relevant qualification. Of the 33 learners, eight are disabled learners (2011: nine learners). Where possible, the company has also attempted to raise the number of females in the workplace within the learnership programme. Currently 51% of the learners are female.

Velociti recently was granted 315 learnerships from the KZN branch of the Services SETA.

For the period under review, the group donated R3.3 million (2011: R3.5 million) to beneficiaries via the Chairman’s Fund. The focus for the group has remained on youth development, HIV and Aids and sports development. The group has aligned the SED donations, where possible, with projects and initiatives that staff are actively involved in.

One such initiative is Rainbow of Hope, a not for profit organisation providing a house of safety to abused and abandoned children in the Western Cape. The Blue Label Branch Manager in Cape Town, Martin Gleeson, completed the 2012 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike Challenge in raising funds for this charity and was supported by the company by donations and sponsorship. Martin and his partner were placed 59th in the Masters Category and raised over R30 000 for Rainbow of Hope.

In addition to this initiative, the company has continued its support of the Cranio-Facial Foundation in partnership with Netcare and Vodacom, as well as Malamulele Onwards, Africa Tikkun, Soweto Marimba Youth League (SMYLE) and Business Against Crime, amongst others.

Historically the group, through its subsidiary TPC, has provided financial assistance and strategic support to ZOK. TPC has extended its financial assistance this year as well as assisting with establishing key relationships with service providers.

The group has been instrumental in establishing Parkrun SA, assisting it both strategically and operationally. Parkrun SA is a 51% black-owned business with the aim of setting up venues throughout South Africa where people, irrespective of race, gender, income bracket or fitness level, can run a 5 kilometre time trial once a week, free of charge. Parkrun SA is an informal partnership between Blue Label and Bruce Fordyce. Since inception in November 2011, Parkrun SA has been successful, with over 1 800 runners registered and operating from four venues. Other blue chip corporates are in discussion with Parkrun SA.

The group continues to source goods and services from B-BBEE compliant suppliers.