Grey's GAP is the real deal

Lumka Fakude and Onake Mlhana, were promoted from the intern programme ahead of schedule at Grey.

Grey Worldwide CEO Ann Nurock: "We were anticipating offering permanent positions to selected interns at the end of this year, but believed there was no point in holding back Lumka's talent until then.

"Lumka is one of two interns hired before the end of the programme, and is concrete demonstration of the success of this approach. Both Lumka, and Onake Mlhana, a junior TV producer, threw themselves into their positions, and displayed commitment, dedication, ability and an exemplary desire to learn," Nurock says. "These interns have proven themselves and we are committed to investing further in them."

Nurock explained that "transformation is paramount, but we cannot truly transform until we recruit or create a level of middle management black employees. GAP is seeing to the recruitment and training of HDI (historically disadvantaged individuals) who will achieve our goals by establishing a profoundly meaningful transformation programme". Grey selected 10 interns from tertiary institutions such as AAA School, Vega Imagination Labs and Brightest Young Minds, amongst others, and identified other HDI youngsters who have no tertiary education and were desperate for a break.

From the beginning of January 2004, each recruit entered a 12-month intern programme during which time they are paid a salary, in line with that of an articled clerk at a law firm. Each intern has been assigned to a department within Grey, ie, client service, creative, strategic planning, TV production or finance, where they shadow a permanent staff member/mentor. All staff acting as mentors have been trained in the area of mentorship and are incentivised via their annual appraisals.