LEARNERSHIP PROGRAM FOR HERTZ STAFFERS ON TRACK
Hertz Southern Africa is driving success by committing to provide their employees with opportunities - formal and informal - to progress their development for both personal and professional gain.
The most recent initiative undertaken by Hertz, South Africa’s oldest car rental company, has seen 15 staff members and five unemployed individuals embark on the National Certificate in Business Administration (SAQA Qualification ID 23833), a NQF Level 2 learnership program facilitated by Siyanqoba Private FET College, a facility working in close association with institutions including the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA).
“It is unfortunate to discover that many Grade 12 learners and students have difficulty in finding employment after school or after completing their studies,” says a spokesperson for the college. “Although learners and students typically have academic and technical skills, they often lack those basic workplace skills, also referred to as employability or work readiness skills.
“This workplace readiness program, National Certificate in Business Administration, was developed to bridge this gap between that of school/studies and work and aims to equip learners with the skills required to secure gainful employment. While there are no exams, learners are required to complete a Portfolio of Evidence.”
The 15 learners selected from within the Hertz ranks comprise a mix of personnel (skilled, semi-skilled and junior management) who have been with the company for a minimum of two years and who have shown development potential within their departmental positions. The five previously unemployed candidates taken on board by the company have been seconded to various branches in Gauteng and are being paid a stipend while being given the opportunity to learn courtesy of Hertz.
According to Sherl Camera, strategy executive at Hertz, “the program has been customized to ensure that all of our training requirements are met and that the culture that is unique to Hertz has been accommodated.
“In order to complete the 12 month program, it is vital that these learners embrace the challenge, are committed, hardworking, disciplined and enthusiastic about what they are doing,” she says. “The training is fun, interactive and relevant to South Africa’s evolving, highly competitive and ever-growing travel-related industry and it is important that they understand that this is time well spent and effort well made for their personal and career development and growth now and in the future.”
A significant part of the process will be putting their new-found skills to work in their daily tasks back at the office she adds. “Each of the learners has been assigned a mentor within the branch who has been tasked to lead by example, motivate, share personal knowledge, experiences and successes and offer ongoing support.
“All training is outcomes-based and the learners are encouraged to participate in discussions that will allow them to exchange ideas and network with their co-learners as well as with their colleagues in the work place,” explains Camera. “Our goal is to help these learners build up personal confidence and empower them with the skills necessary to interact, network and foster professional relationships within the company as well as with externally.”
The training is being facilitated at Hertz’s headquarters in Gauteng with the 20 learners away from the workplace for a maximum of three days each month. Individuals accessing this qualification are assumed to be competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 1 (Grade 7) and the qualification outline comprises a number of modules each with comprehensive subject sub-sections.
Assessments are based on numerous practical exercises and the learners are being provided with continuous feedback on their individual progress in order to enable them to achieve the requirements to obtain the qualification. Attendance is strictly monitored and will impact on the final assessments made by the college.
“At Hertz, we are 100% committed to the up-skilling of our staff at every level and stage of their careers. This time round, we are proud to be in a position to provide additional opportunities to talented, unemployed individuals who we feel will be able to make a career for themselves in the business and leisure travel market,” concludes Camera.
Hertz currently has over 42 branches strategically located at major hubs throughout South Africa with the opening of a further seven locations at Gautrain stations imminent. Hertz has five locations in Namibia and, in 2014, we expanded our southern African footprint to include Zimbabwe where we have locations in Harare International Airport and Victoria Falls.
Hertz’s Gold Plus Rewards (GPR) program delivers faster and easier car rental that allows its members to skip the counter at over 50 airports around the world. Additionally, at over 4 000 locations worldwide, renters can simply show their driver licence and pick up their keys. 
