Fi nding experienced candidates with knowledge of the local market as well as supply chain experience is becoming increasingly difficult, says SACO CFR chief human resources officer, Beverly Kirstein.Over and above this, soft skills such as leadership, communication and relationship management are also not that easy to find.This comes as training throughout the industry has seemingly been reduced due to a lack of funding.“This is quite concerning,” Kirstein told Freight News. “Many companies are finding it more and more difficult to maintain their training standards due to a lack of funding.”She says one of the biggest challenges facing industry training and recruitment is probably the lack of funding from the Setas. “This places immense financial pressure on the industry. It often leaves companies unable to commit to their training requirements. And often companies are having to look internally to fulfil those requirements.”According to Kirstein, this has all had a knock-on effect. “Due to the current economic situation, many people are finding it difficult to maintain the cost of living they were once used to. And so we are seeing that industry employees are basing their career advancement on financial gain as a focus.”Maintaining an upper hand on skill set versus remuneration versus economic conditions is critical in the current environment. “At SACO CFR we have always seen training as an important part of our development of employees and remain committed to training programmes. Also, when recruiting for positions we ensure that we are recruiting candidates for the right reasons.”Showcasing its commitment to training, SACO CFR earlier this year acquired the majority shares in accredited training provider Metro Minds.“We understand that there is a need to ensure sustained relevance and to invest in much-needed education of our industry,” says Kirstein, indicating that the focus is on developing and adding to the curriculum. The recent launch by Metro Minds of a BCom in Freight For warding and Customs Compliance, a first of its kind in the industry, is a case in point. It has also introduced a workplace readiness programme for graduates. “These two programmes alone, she says, will add much-needed skills to the industry.”She says another new development at SACO CFR has been the design and implementation of a coaching programme in collaboration withpersonal wellness industry specialists.“This came because we recognised that after the challenges that the pandemic brought about, our people required tools to cope with the personal struggles that many have faced during these trying times. Our entire management team attends the coaching programme over an 18-month period. The programme focuses on personal growth, self-awareness and wellness, and has already proven to be a much-needed skill in the management of self, which in turn provides a platform to effectively manage our teams from an understanding of how the human mind works,” she explains.This is taken further into the recruiting process. “Now, when recruiting, we focus not only on the skill set of the candidate but the motivation they present in personal development and whether the candidate will be willing and able to collaborate with the coaching programme that we deem an integral part of a successful business relationship.”According to Kirstein, with the funding allocation for training diminishing at a concerning rate, the industry has no other option but to fund itself. “Unless we are able to get together as professionals and work around these challenges, the decrease in training as a priority due to lack of financial backing could have a dire impact on business. We need to be innovative and apply our minds to the future of our industry.”
