Woolworths is pleased to announce it has won the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education Training Authority (W&RSETA) Good Practice Award in the ‘Enterprise: Super Large Retail Category’ for 2016.
The award recognises excellence by a large retailer in the area of learning and development, within the wholesale and retail sector in South Africa. Woolworths ability to deliver business-relevant and individually-meaningful people development, that also enables their transformation strategy, were the main reasons they were recognised with this award.
During their last financial year, Woolworths contributed over 100 million rand to learning and development. In addition to developing existing and potential employees, Woolworths also pioneered a programme to train lecturers that teach retail related subjects at various TVET colleges.
Commenting on the award, Sibongile Antoni, Woolworths Head of HR for Learning and Development said, “Woolworths is delighted to receive an award that recognises our investment in our employees and in retail skills development for the industry as a whole. Learning and development is a key differentiator in our employee value proposition and an essential enabler of our transformation strategy. To be recognised by one of our key partners, the W&RSETA, is particularly meaningful.”
Martha Shingange, Marketing Manager at W&RSETA, added, “Learning and development encompasses a wide range of activities designed to improve employees’ capabilities. These include not only technical skills and knowledge, but also a range of attributes, attitudes and behaviours. In order for retailers, such as Woolworths, to achieve their business strategies, they need skilled, diverse and motivated employees. Woolworths has shown unwavering commitment to learning and development of their staff throughout their business.”
About Woolworths
Woolworths Holdings Limited is a South African-based retail group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (“the JSE”) since 1997.
The WHL Group consists of three main operating companies, Woolworths Proprietary Limited (Woolworths), David Jones Limited (David Jones) and Country Road Limited (Country Road Group). Woolworths Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited (Woolworths Financial Services) is a joint venture with Barclays Africa Group.
In South Africa, the group trades through Woolworths (Proprietary) Limited, a respected chain of retail stores offering discerning customers a selected range of quality clothing, food, homeware, beauty and financial services under its own brand name.
About the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education Training Authority (W&RSETA) Good Practice Awards
The W&RSETA was established in 2000 in terms of the Skills Development Act. The public entity aims to facilitate the skills development needs of the Wholesale and Retail (W&R) sector through the implementation of learning programmes, disbursement of grants and monitoring of education and training as outlined in the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS).
The awards were adjudicated by a panel including representatives from the SETA, the Consumer Goods Council, Black Business SA and the body of Accredited Private Providers in Education, Training & Development (APPEDT).
