Otis relaunches technical training academy

The skills shortage in the technical field has left the company struggling to find qualified mechanics that can service and maintain its equipment, while meeting its stringent safety standards.

Otis, in partnership with MERSETA, has been able to run a robust learnership/apprenticeship programme, in line with its skills development programme, designed to create technical and functional expertise in African markets. It currently hosts 68 learners and graduates and, on average, sees 15 mechanics qualify each year. In 2016, 21 learners qualified and Otis subsequently employed all of them.

“With the recent statistics released on the unemployment rate in South Africa, the company acknowledges that it can contribute to the reduction of unemployment by doubling the intake of learners into the learnership/apprenticeship programme,” says Loueen Jones-Paulsen, HR director of Otis Africa.

Apart from graduating learners with an NQF Level 4 Mechanic qualification, the training academy will now offer programmes ranging from service and maintenance, installations, quality, environment, health and safety, sales, field engineering and operations, supervision, project management, general management, leadership, and a module on doing business in Africa.

The training and development framework will ensure the development of clear career paths, allowing employees to progress through the organisation, bringing about talent development and far greater employee retention. In addition, the training academy will provide training to subcontractors and black entrepreneurs participating in the Otis B-BBEE programme.

The primary purpose of the academy is to create a space where all stakeholders increase their level of skill, competence and expertise, while fostering a culture of learning and encouraging operational and service excellence. For Otis to remain committed to and deliver on its promise of uncompromising quality and safety, it is imperative that it has a strong leadership and highly skilled, customer centric and competent workforce to ensure it retains its global leadership position.

Bora Gulan, president of Otis North, Central Europe and Africa (NCEA) and Daniel Daphne, MD of Otis Africa, relaunched the Academy.