SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

Our learning and development focus is on developing and building competence relating to both leadership/management and technical or functional skills. Learning and development continues to be a key enabler for the development of a black talent pipeline for key roles in the business.

Woolworths drives learning and development through the Woolworths Academy framework, which is structured in a way to guide each learner to undertake a path of progressive learning, and includes:

  • 775 employees are on accredited learnership programmes (4% of total employees), leading to a national qualification registered with the South African Qualifications Framework. This has increased from 366 employees in 2009;
  • 6 Accredited Skills programmes are running through Supply Chain and Foods; and
  • 5 Trainee programmes across the business.

Skills development performance has improved against 2009, but is still underperforming against the Woolworths target for the year.

Total spend on black employees increased significantly from the last financial year.