Santam joint winner in first Inseta National Disability Awards
The Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) held its National Disability Awards on 3rd December 2009, which coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Santam was honoured as joint winner with Glenrand M-I-B, in the Company Award category for organisations that have created opportunities for people with disabilities.
Over the past five years Santam has successfully implemented a learnership programme for unemployed black matriculants in line with our philosophy to Embrace diversity. Michael Brand, Santam’s Skills Development Facilitator, has been instrumental in driving this programme within Santam. He notes that “the aim of the programme is to have a pipeline of talented individuals to recruit from for entry level positions and to assist in the transformation of the company linked to the various business unit employment equity plans. In 2008 Santam introduced a learnership programme exclusively for black people with disabilities - 14 learners were placed on the programme of which nine graduated and seven became permanent employees of Santam.”
Julia Dyssell, Head: Human Resources says, “The biggest challenge we faced was that most of the learners did not have maths so we needed to run a bridging course to get their level of understanding from NQF level 1 to a NQF level 4 before delivering the mathematical literacy unit standards. This year we decided to combine able bodied learners and learners with a disability on the learnership programme which proved to be effective.”
The learners are supported through the programme as a mentor is assigned to one or more learners, and it is because of the mentors that the learnership programme is such a great success. The learnership also gives participants a number of skills that will assist them in their future - it exposes them to a formal working environment while at the same time giving them a year’s work experience in a certain field. Each learner receives a full insurance qualification which is registered with Inseta and SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority).
“The national awards are a first for the insurance sector in the country and Santam is proud to be recognised for its efforts to empower people with disabilities,” adds Dyssell. “This result further supports our recent accolade of being voted South Africa’s Best Company to Work for in 2009. Next year we continue this programme and the recruitment process has already begun as we strive to create a world of certainty for all our stakeholders.”
The Awards aim to honour and raise the profile of workers with disabilities who are making a remarkable difference in the insurance sector, as well as individuals and organisations supporting the advancement of people with disabilities. The National Disability Awards have four nomination categories: the Business Leader Award (for people with disabilities who have shown outstanding personal achievement in the workplace); the Young Leader Award (for people with disabilities aged 18 to 25 who have displayed great potential in their studies/workplace); the Champion Award (for employers or individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities); and finally, the Company Award.
