Disruptive technologies and social enterprise are changing the way businesses need to operate to stay ahead of the curve.
Decades have now distanced businesses from the idea that access to labour and investment in machinery would give them the competitive edge. Instead, in the modern knowledge era, it is the ability to serve all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and harness the latest technologies that are the driving forces behind commercial success across industries.
According to the latest Global Human Capital Trends Report, 50% of respondents categorized their organization’s purpose as broadening extensively to include all stakeholders, including the communities they serve and society at large. An intense focus on technology was also noted as a primary driver, if not the primary driver, of enterprise value.
“The power of social enterprise lies in its ability to bring a human focus to everything it touches, empowering people to work productively with technology to create lasting value for themselves, their organisations, and society at large” – 2020 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends Report.
Download the 2020 Global Human Capital Trends Report by completing the Download Report form.
So, what can you do to position your company as a social enterprise—an organization whose mission combines revenue growth and profit-making with the need to respect and support its environment and stakeholder network?
It is well-known that our country’s youth struggle to enter the job market as a result of low levels of education and lack of work experience. But a Learnership, obtained through an accredited provider could be the answer to addressing the critical skills gap that exists in various industries to help boost the level of employment in the country.
According to data by Statistics SA, South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to 30.1 percent in the first quarter of 2020 from 29.1 percent in the previous period and above market expectations of 29.7 percent. The burden of unemployment is concentrated amongst the youth (aged 15–34 years) as they account for 63,4% of the total number of unemployed persons. Almost 4 in every 10 young people in the labour force do not have a job.
“Alongside unemployment our country is struggling dismally with a skills shortage and it’s growing by the day. We need a generation to help nurture and develop the skills the trade and industry desperately needs now and, in the years, to come,” says Richard Rayne, CEO of iLearn.
There is a simple solution!
A Hosted Learnership is a partnership between two companies, whereby one company (the sponsor) funds the Learnership programme, and the other company (the host) provides the workplace facility and dedicated mentors to assist and guide learners. Learn more about this approach here.
But as we enter a new decade, we have realized that that we need to go one step further. We need to ask a deeper question – How can organisations leverage the environment that technology creates to humanize the world of work. “By recognizing the possibilities of that environment, organizations can chart a path forward to embrace one of the greatest paradoxes they face today: Can organizations remain distinctly human in a technology-driven world?” - 2020 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends Report.
iLearn has pioneered two Blended IT Learnerships, based on a cutting-edge new Learnership model that uses Blended Learning. “Blended learning is paving the way for future learning,” adds Rayne. “It is a pedagogical approach with unlimited potential and high appeal for businesses as employees do a significant amount of study in their own time. It is an economical way to develop your talent pipeline in line with your business objectives. Ultimately, your employees gain the knowledge and skills your business needs, but with significantly less absenteeism from work while in training.”
This approach that fuses the human and the technological, can enable people and organisations to transcend the most challenging conflicts that exist in organisations today. Learn more about this approach here.
There has never been a more important time than now to make a difference. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, we all have a renewed responsibility towards our people, our community and our country! We are here to help guide you. Give us a call to learn more.