IMM Marketing Learnerships

The new learnerships, which have been developed by the Quality Management Unit of the IMM, in conjunction with the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), are in the fields of marketing and sales, customer management and marketing communications. An additional learnership in the field of marketing research is also available.

Employers who are members of the Services SETA and who take on learners receive a direct subsidy of R40 000 from the SETA. This is in addition to tax deductions of at least R50 000 per year per learner.

The learnerships provide employers and employees alike with a structured programme leading to certification, including field books, that will give a sound range of skills in each of the learnership subjects. They are designed to transfer skills to learners who have not had the privilege of formal tertiary education, and are an essential aspect of government's commitment to addressing the skills shortage in South Africa.

The IMM's Quality Management Unit (QMU), headed up by Dr Michele Serfontein, has been working for several months with Services SETA to develop a range of marketing learnerships on behalf of government.

"The development of the learnerships is part of the IMM's programme of certifying all levels of marketing practitioners, ranging from the most basic learnerships to those who have been practising marketing at a senior level for many years. It also represents our commitment to assist government in overcoming the skills shortage in South Africa in our particular area of expertise," according to John Arnesen, Acting Chief Executive of the IMM.

Dr Serfontein explains learnerships thus: "An employer skilled in marketing takes on an unskilled person who has been identified by Services SETA as having the potential to learn marketing. The employer's marketing practitioner then passes on his or her skills to the learner, using the IMM-developed structure as a guide. At the end of the process, when both employer and IMM assessors are satisfied that the learner has reached an acceptable standard, he or she will receive the appropriate certification, and can then move on to the next level."

She added that the IMM is working towards establishing certification procedures for all levels of marketing. "We want companies to know that a certified IMM marketer guarantees a high standard of skills and experience in the person who is being employed."

The IMM also provides a Chartered Marketer qualification aimed at senior level marketers. Results of the first CM course in 2002 are shortly to be released, and a second course will be offered in November.

For more information about employing a learner, as well as about the CM course, contact Dr Serfontein by e-mail at .