Page 39 - Logistics News - July August 2023

N E WS

value crops through the SPAR Freshline brand are ultimately pursue a career in stores are also encouraged to join SPAR’s
more profitable for the farmer. JumpStart programme where they can get hands-on experience
in a retail store environment.
“Our model is different to other programmes in that we
address systemic issues such as food security. Our purpose Meanwhile, the SPAR distribution centres and central
is to inspire people to do and be more. This is core to our office teams continue to provide opportunities for graduates
way of doing business and strongly feeds into our vision of to gain work experience through internships, with 772 people
being the first-choice brand in the communities we serve,” participating to date. To further ramp up opportunities in the
says Oliva. “This model continues to contribute positively to modern digital age, in 2022, SPAR Southern Africa embarked on
economic transformation, improving food security and the a second round of the SPAR YES4Youth learnership programme,
health and well-being of people within rural communities, with an initial cohort of 441 learners.
and we are very proud of our achievements. We want to
take this to the next level now.” “We are delighted to report that as of the end of March 2023,
with the conclusion of the 2022 programme, we managed to
Education and leadership permanently employ 46 learners, which, at 10.43 percent, is
Education and leadership are the key pillars for ongoing job higher than the YES requirement of an absorption rate of 2.5
growth and skills development and in this regard, the SPAR percent,” says Oliva.
Academy of Learning and its JumpStart programme are playing
a unique role in leadership development in the South African “We commenced with our 2023 YES4Youth intake at the
landscape. beginning of April 2023. Our learners have been provided with
smartphones to complete their modules through the YES4Youth
Both programmes draw on thought leadership academically, app and are paid a monthly stipend as they get real workplace
conceptually and practically in a way that makes them highly experience through training in retail stores, at our distribution
relevant. JumpStart, for instance, lays the foundations to centres and at SPAR’s central office.”
address unemployment through a sustainable conduit, giving
young people the opportunity to experience the world of work “Corporate South Africa needs to work harder to plug the
and the world of retail. rising unemployment gap in our country. In doing our part,
we’re accelerating our commitment to education so that we are
The SPAR Group has also partnered with FutureMe since part of the solution in finding and growing jobs to help turn the
2016, working with high school learners to inspire them alarming jobs situation around,” he concludes.
to follow a career in retail. Topics such as values, personal
branding, business ethics, customer service, problem-solving Micro and small-scale food producers are encouraged to
and entrepreneurship are all addressed in the programme. sign up for the SPAR Supplier Development Programme at
Graduates from FutureMe’s Go-Getter Challenge who want to https://sparsupplierdevelopment.co.za/. •

SPAR YES4YOUTH programme learners.

www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a JULY/A U GU S T 2023 37