Skills Development Summit to address unemployment challenges

Kekeletso Khena, director of the BHP Billiton Skills Development Summit, says South Africa needs to urgently tackle these high levels of unemployment by addressing the issue of skills development within the country. She says that one way of doing this is to instill skills development programmes in both the private and public sector. "Employment creation and poverty eradication are both dependent on the skills levels in South Africa. In order for the economy and business to grow and develop, the public and private sector need to work together to assist with skills development."

The 4th annual BHP Billiton Skills Development Summit taking place on 25 and 26 July, which aims to address these issues and create a platform for corporate South Africa, government, skills education training authorities, trade councils and the public to join together and discuss the business of skills development, as well as conceptualise effective solution for the skills development challenges facing South Africa today. The summit will be held at the International Convention Centre at the CSIR in Pretoria.

Achiever Awards give recognition

The National Development Plan for 2030 highlights that the key to national development, sustainable employment and economic growth in South Africa is through education and skills development. The 2012 BHP Billiton Skills Development Summit will discuss the extent at which new policies, institutions and delivery mechanisms are succeeding in building a new, inclusive and high-quality skills development system.

Forming part of the summit is the 2012 Achiever Awards, which was developed three years ago to encourage, recognise and promote leading companies and departments from the public and private sector that make a contribution towards building the skills of South Africans. "The Achiever Awards provide recognition to those who have demonstrated their commitment to the advancement of their employees' skills base, by implementing skills development and training programmes that are relevant, innovative and effective," says Khena.

Companies of all sizes, government departments and organisations interested in entering can fill out a nomination form online at www.skillssummit.co.za/articles/Nomination-form as well as interact with fellow entrants and businesses on the Achiever Awards social media platforms Facebook and Twitter.