BANKSETA Awards winners announced

According to BANKSETA, five critical skills priorities are presently applicable to the banking and microfinance sector.

These are: customer interface, information technology, legislation implementation, management and leadership, and specialist financial skills. The BANKSETA's skills@work awards aim to recognise its partners in the sector that go beyond the call of duty in ensuring that effective and impactful skills development initiatives are undertaken. The awards are a celebration of good practice in skills development and focus on the true impact that these interventions have on the lives of both employed and unemployed individuals.

A large number of submissions were received and the judging panel was faced with a daunting task in identifying the winners in each category.

Passion for skills development

"Paying lip service with ineffective learning and development programmes leads to failure, but the submissions for the awards have shown the lengths to which these organisations will go to ensure that lives are changed, careers are enhanced and businesses are improved through skills development," says BANKSETA's Chief Executive Officer, Max Makhubalo.

"The incredible passion for skills development that has been witnessed in the sector is testament to the fact that the sector is a great well of opportunities. We are proud of the ferocity with which the sector is driving the skills development agenda and were unendingly impressed by the applications and submissions received across the board."

Winners

The 2014 winners were handed their awards by BANKSETA Marketing and Communications Manager, Zandile Skosana, at a ceremony held recently at The Venue, Melrose Arch.

Absa Bank was announced as the winner of the Large Company, with Iemas Financial Services scooping the Financial Cooperative category award and Cornerstone Performance Solutions winning the BANKSETA Accredited Training Provider category.

Two special commendations were awarded: to African Bank for its ongoing dedication to best practice in skills development in the sector; and to DebtAdvise Consulting for reaching out to the SMEs in the sector to take skills development and training to those hard to reach areas in the country.