Learning Academies

With the continued focus on skills development and the delivery of relevant training, Eqstra has positioned its development efforts at four levels, illustrated in the diagram below.

Eqstra leadership academy

The Eqstra Leadership Academy (ELA) was inaugurated on 15 February 2011 in partnership with Wits Business School to provide employees with a platform to strengthen their skills base, in turn enhancing the talent base within Eqstra.

The Academy currently delivers two programmes that have been accredited with the Council for Higher Education. One at NQF level 6 (continued professional management development), with an employment equity representation of 65%, and one at NQF level 7 (continued professional leadership development), with an employment equity representation of 54%. A masters level qualification is planned for the forthcoming year. To date, 120 delegates have undergone formal training. In addition, 60 managers and supervisors completed leadership development modules in the Industrial Equipment division. This ensures trained, skilled employees are in place to facilitate seamless transitions when required as part of succession planning.

Divisional supervisory interventions

Supervisory development is addressed within each division with the emphasis on competency transfer and the roll-out of generic training as required by the respective divisions. The learning interventions range from short courses to learnerships. 144 supervisors were trained during the year under review.

Eqstra technical training academy

The Eqstra Technical Training Academy (ETTA) was established in 2008 to provide the group with much needed technical skills. The skills development undertaken will also enhance the sectoral and national skills pool over time. The ETTA trained 341 apprentices during the 2011 financial year (2010: 230), of which 64% were previously disadvantaged South Africans.

The increase in trainees in the year under review was due to new contracts being awarded that required additional training. The academy is accredited by merSETA (the industry’s sector education and training authority) to provide training in a number of critical fields:

An additional 56 apprentices have qualified through the Industrial Equipment division’s Toyota Forklift training facility in Cape Town, which is an accredited forklift mechanic training provider. Of all the apprentices trained, 97% of the apprentices were previously disadvantaged South Africans. The division has the only academy that is accredited to undertake apprentice trade tests by merSETA. It offers its qualified technicians further training under the Service Technician Education Programme (STEP), which is an international training programme administered by Toyota Japan. 23 new entrants were added to the programme during the 2011 financial year (2010: 7).

Divisional operator training academies

Divisional operator academies include the MCC Learning Academy (Contract Mining and Plant Rental division), which undertakes mining and construction equipment training, and the SIE Operator Academy (Industrial Equipment division), which undertakes forklift operator training.

The MCC Learning Academy was established in January 2011 and its objective is to develop operators on a wide range of mining equipment. This learning centre is accredited with the relevant SETA to train operators of mining and construction equipment, including dump trucks, loaders, dozers, graders and excavators.

Prior to the establishment of the training facility, training was conducted on site at mining locations. For the year under review, a total of 1 620 employees were trained, making a quantifiable contribution to skills development nationally.

The MCC Learning Academy is in the process of obtaining Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) accreditation in safety, fire fighting and first aid training programmes.
As a service offering to its clients, the SIE Operator Academy trained 1 026 forklift operators in the 2011 financial year (2010: 854), an increase of 20% over the previous year.

Study assistance

Eqstra provides financial assistance to employees based on performance and relevance, to enhance academic qualifications through a number of appropriate institutions. Throughout the group, a total of 32 employees were supported financially for the 2011 financial year (2010: 32).