WHOLESALE AND RETAIL SETA
WRSETA announces funded learnerships


The Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSeta) has recently announced they will be providing grants for 5000 learners in the sector. These grants are for both employed and unemployed learners and will provide retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to participate in the skills revolution at no cost to them.

"Old Mutual Properties boosts turnover by R 100m", as reported in the Business Report pages of The Star, Monday, June 6, 2005, explains how learnerships have increased their tenants' sales in the 11 shopping centres in which learnerships are being conducted. Turnover has been boosted by "significantly more than centre average growth. In some cases the increases have been as high as 20 percent" according to Old Mutual Properties' retail executive, Brent Wiltshire.

The W&RSeta is focussing on the SMME retailers to attract them to participate. This brings normally out-of-reach training to the smaller players, but is not limited to them. Grants for either existing employees or for unemployed learners are offered.

"A learnership is a structured theoretical and workplace development programme with a duration of approximately 12 months," says Kevin Keenan, a partner in Owl Business Training, an accredited training provider. He adds, "Learners gain the understanding and ability to implement the basics of wholesale and retail practices, yielding multiple benefits for the employee and the learner."

For the Company, these benefits are:

· A structured, measured learning experience focused on the skills needed for the sector.

· Guided workplace training, focused on organisation-specific requirements.

· Improved customer relations and excellent business practice.

· A core of multi-skilled, enthusiastic employees, qualified to national standards.

· Improved employee attitude, performance and all-round competence.

· Enhanced commitment and loyalty from the workforce.

· Reduced staff turnover.

· Succession planning and reserves of management-ready personnel.

· Employment Equity objectives are furthered.

· Financial benefits of additional tax deductions.

· Zero cost of training.

· Increased profits.


Learners' benefits include:

· Being able to enter learning at the appropriate level of skill (National Qualifications Framework).

· Qualifications are standards based, ensuring a uniform level of training throughout the organisation and the country.

· Learning is achieved in bite-sized, building block units.

· Enhanced job understanding and therefore, satisfaction and performance.

· Greater recognition by the Company.

· Enhanced development and promotion prospects.

· Awarding of the nationally recognised certificate of competence.
Keenan goes on to explain, "The real return on investment will be seen in the workplace. Learnership clients report improved attitude, performance and profits," he says.

An additional financial inducement for companies to participate in learnerships is offered by the South African Revenue Services (SARS). For every learner a company enrolls, that company may write off R 50 000 (or R 42 500 for employed learners) against its taxable profit. This is over and above the W&RSeta grants and the normal tax deductions for training as a company expense.

"A learnership will have a measurable, immediate and positive long term effect on your business," Keenan concludes.

Please note that the closing date for applications for these grants is 30th June 2005.

Owl Business Training will conduct learnerships in some of the major retail areas of Gauteng, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Durban and invite you to contact them to answer your questions.