The Impact of Long-Term Training Partnerships on Skills Development
Skills Development has the power to transform individuals and companies. And, the eight-year partnership between Daly Credit Corporation and EduPower Skills Academy clearly illustrates this. These two companies have woven essential skills into the fabric of Daly’s operations, elevating the workforce and helping to combat youth unemployment. Their unwavering commitment to inclusive growth has raised the bar for what it truly means to invest in people.
According to Aumitha Ramash, the Group Human Resources Executive for Daly Credit Corporation, EduPower’s credibility and effective delivery have fostered a long-standing relationship. “A standout aspect of our collaboration is EduPower’s dedication to facilitating learnership programmes that meet Daly’s goals. Their approach to Skills Development not only helps us achieve our B-BBEE objectives but also ensures our learnership graduates enter the workforce with the skills they need to be productive from day one,” states Ramash.
“Ensuring that Daly’s learners add immediate value is one of our key deliverables,” says Rajan Naidoo, Managing Director of EduPower. “The benefit of long-term partnerships with companies like them is that we can tailor our training to give learners the best possible start for their future careers.”
Enhancing Diversity
“Over the years, EduPower has facilitated 500 learnerships at Daly, enabling us to contribute meaningfully towards youth employment in South Africa,” Ramash elaborates. “In selecting candidates for our learnerships, we have intentionally included specific demographics and age groups to leverage the benefits of diversity.”
This focus extends to accommodating learners with disabilities. Edupower’s Naidoo says it has been possible due to the Academy’s customised learning environment coupled with its adaptive learning methods and flexible classroom hours. “Our learning environments are focused on providing everyone the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or disabilities,” he adds.
Continuous Monitoring and Support
Another key to the success of the partnership has been the constant monitoring of the learnerships by both Daly and EduPower. Ramash says this ensures learner commitment and results-oriented execution.
“EduPower goes the extra mile to resolve any queries that the learner or Daly might have,” she explains. “From onboarding, induction, facilitation and general administrative support, the team is flexible and responsive to the needs and circumstances of learners, accommodating unexpected events that may affect learner engagement.”
This level of support is non-negotiable emphasises Naidoo and is essential for maintaining the high standards and effectiveness of the learnerships.
Absorption
Ramash also praises EduPower’s thorough learner assessments and evaluations which allow Daly to measure their ROI. Coupled with a fixed-term employment contract for the duration of the learnership, these measurables often lead to permanent employment for top performers.
“EduPower’s learnerships enable us to target the skills needed for our entry-level employees, continuously upgrading and broadening their skill sets and knowledge within the company,” she notes. “This makes excellent business sense for both the employee and Daly.”
Ramash also says the absorption model used by EduPower has been particularly effective within Daly: “Being able to absorb our learners into our workforce delivers bonus points for B-BBEE and aligns perfectly with Daly’s strategic growth. This ensures that our learnerships lead to real, tangible outcomes.”
Building Trust
Both Ramash and Naidoo agree that having a strong relationship built on trust ensures that both the businesses and the learners come out as winners. “Trust is the foundation of any successful partnership and for us, this has been built over years of consistent, dedicated service and a shared vision for growth and development,” Ramash concludes.
The partnership between Daly and EduPower is a testament to the impact that focused, well-managed training programmes can have on business success and broader social issues. The benefits of this collaboration are clear: enhanced skills, better employment opportunities and a brighter future for many young South Africans.