Talksure Gives Back to Local School Emakheni Primary School in Nqwayini, just outside of Tongaat recently received a new look. Employees of Umhlanga based Financial Services Provider, Talksure, gathered at the school to assist with various renovations. In an ongoing partnership with Crossroads KZN, Talksure employees constructed an on-site vegetable garden and assisted with renovations to a jungle-gym. Durban based NPO, Crossroads KZN, facilitates the company’s partnership with the school which involves an ongoing school food programme as well as various improvements to the schooling infrastructure. Talksure firmly believes in the principles and importance of Ubuntu. Talksure’s Employee Engagement Officer, Kamhal Pillay, said these initiatives are purely done to give back to communities in which the company operates. “When Mahendra Singh of Crossroads approached us, we swiftly decided to get involved in this new request because we know we have a responsibility to our communities,” said Pillay. Some of Talksure’s previous initiatives with Crossroads includes the painting of classrooms at several primary schools as well as the sponsoring of a roof and the painting of the Community Hope Centre and Day Care in Iqadi, Durban. “We are honoured to partner with Crossroads and to contribute to the wellbeing of children and families in our local community. We have been in partnership with Crossroads for over four years and look to continue to do so in an effort to make a difference in the lives all those we touch,” says Michelle Chandler, Chief Peoples Officer at Talksure. With the high levels of poverty in Kwa Zulu Natal, many children are forced to abandon school due to lack of funds or because they have to become primary caregivers in their households. Many are unable to afford basic requirements such as clothing and food. The development of a vegetable garden will contribute to the school’s food programme which ensures that learners from the community …
Top tips for Excellent Customer Experience
There is no doubt about it, excellent customer service leads to success that is measurable in rands and cents. Despite this fact, many businesses fail to make customer experience a priority. Prashanti Narainsamy, the lead on Customer Experience at Talksure, a prominent call centre in Umhlanga, is passionate about customer experience. She’s been in the industry for 20 years & her experience spans over the healthcare insurance, financial services, energy and telecommunications industries. She strongly believes that for any business to succeed they must understand the needs of their customers. She adds that excellent customer experience also extends to your internal, organisational experience. She offers five tips on how you can improve customer service in your business: 1. Have a clear vision You need to have a clear vision of what you want your customer experience to look like. Take the time to strategize and plan this. Share this with your team, your business. Set it down in terms of principles or guiding policies. 2. On-board your team Customer satisfaction is expected…Customer loyalty is priceless. Good customer relationships arise from your culture… not your programs or initiatives. For example, how you treat your employees is a gauge of how you treat your customers. If your people believe your vision they your battle is won. 3. Know your customer Who are you servicing? Take the time to segment your customer demographics and tailor your service towards them. Understanding your customers will also help you create an emotional connection. Collect data from various touchpoints in your business that customers engage with you. Use this information to recycle back into the business to improve the overall experience. 4. Be honest and transparent in your communications When customers request more information about your product or have a query, you need to be able to provide factual feedback in simple terms quickly. Customer’s value …
CNet Training Launches the First Government Funded Apprenticeship for Network Cable Installation
England, Jun 14, 2019 -- CNet is the first company to launch an Apprenticeship within the network cable infrastructure sector across England and Wales. The company has fully planned and prepared the content of the CNCI® Apprenticeship that provides the apprentice and employer with a full itinerary of activities to follow and implement. It introduces the concept of an ‘Apprenticeship in a Box’, designed to take care of the time-consuming planning often associated with Apprenticeships and on-going professional development. The CNCI® Apprenticeship has been put together as the result of a close collaboration between major companies from the network cabling sector. It recognises network cable installation as a role and provides industry approved certification which standardises technical education for network cable installers. CNet is committed to the network cable installation sector and is looking to encourage more people to join the sector and inspire future career goals. The Apprenticeship is available to all across England and Wales, the apprentice will benefit from on and off-the-job training and activities such as mentoring, shadowing, internal training and specialist external education programs. The Apprenticeship will take between 12-15 months to complete. Apprentices must pass a practical assessment and professional discussion to successfully complete the CNCI® Apprenticeship, which ensures that the learner is fully competent and ready to work independently within the industry. With a team of professionally trained and CNCI® certified individuals, the risks to businesses are significantly reduced, and organisations can feel confident that their staff are competent to meet today's industry demands. On successful completion of the Apprenticeship, learners will be able to confidently install, test and certify copper and fibre optic cable installation across a variety of environments, working to the correct standards and best practices. Learners will …
Property Sector Careers Could be Key to Reducing Youth Unemployment in South Africa
South Africa is facing a crisis of high and rising youth unemployment. Only 1 in 3 young people of working age is employed. This distressing statistic not only plays out through the limited earnings potential and future prospects of these youth, but also emerges in stymied business growth. This number could, however, be minimised if the public and private sector join forces to build a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem for the younger generation, which, statistics indicate, is more open-minded to entrepreneurship as a career choice than previous generations. “There are a number of great job opportunities for young people in the South African property market,” says MultiNET CEO Shaun Rademeyer, “from youth with practical hands-on abilities to do things like electrical or plumbing work, to those who prefer to sell or to arrange bonds, contracts and financing.” While being a residential real estate agent is one of the most common career opportunities associated with the property industry, it is by no means the only one. The industry has depth and breadth, and there are many other jobs young people can explore. Whether they are looking for something with more flexibility, more structure, higher stakes or lower stakes, they are likely to find a career opportunity within real estate and related services. “There are also the more physical aspects of selling a house where manual labour is needed to make the property sellable,” says Rademeyer, “from the painting to plumbing, to electrical work. Youngsters who develop these trade and technical skills can easily go on to establish their own businesses and provide much needed jobs for others.” Career opportunities in real estate We’ve put together a list of jobs candidates might not have considered in the real estate industry that are both challenging and have the potential to be profitable new careers for South Africa’s youth. 1. Web developers, social media and SEO specialists, AutoCAD designers The …
Just Property – ’n Huurder se gids tot uitsetting van ’n eiendom
Kan jou verhuurder jou dwing om te trek? Shaun du Bois, Hoof Praktisyn van Eiendom by Just Property en Peter Mennen, Hoof Regsverteenwoordiger by die TPN-kredietburo, beantwoord gereelde vrae oor uitsettings. Watter proses moet my verhuurder volg as hy my wil uitsit? Volgens artikel 14 van die Wet op Verbruikersbeskerming kan 'n verhuurder jou laat uittrek voor die einde van die huurtermyn as jy die terme van die huurkontrak oortree en versuim om hierdie verbreking binne die vereiste tydperk op te los, of indien die bepalings waaronder die verhuurder die kontrak kan beëindig in die huurkontrak gestipuleer en is nie as 'n onregverdige praktyk beskou kan word nie (Artikel 4 (5) (c) van die Wet op Huurbehuising). Die Wet op die Voorkoming van Onwettige Uitsetting beskerm ook huurders teen onbillike praktyk en die verhuurder moet die wet hierop streng volg. Die wetlike landskap is ingewikkeld en die nodige omsigtigheid moet gedoen word voordat enige uitsettings gemaak kan word. Ek het versuim om my betaling te maak en kan ook nie die huur nou betaal nie. Ek is aangesê om die perseel te ontruim. Toe ek my huurkontrak geteken het, het ek my ma se adres as 'n alternatiewe tuiste gegee, maar sy is onlangs oorlede en ek het nêrens anders om te gaan nie. Wat is my opsies? Indien u in 'n eiendom bly nadat die huurooreenkoms wettig gekanselleer is, word u 'n onwettige okkupeerder. Die term 'plakkersregte' word soms na verwys, maar is nie 'n term wat met Suid-Afrikaanse reg geassosieer word nie. Die verhuurder, soos hierbo bespreek, sal die nodige proses moet volg en 'n uitsettingsbevel deur die hof moet verkry om u uit te sit. Die litigasieproses kan betwis word, maar prokureursgelde kan duur wees en die uitsetting is traumaties. Dit sal die beste wees om altyd 'n vriendskaplike oplossing vir die siutasie te vind voordat die saak in die hof eindig. In sommige gevalle kan die eienaar toegeeflik wees en kan jy vir nog 'n maand bly; U sal egter aanspreeklik bly vir die …
Internal communications key to job satisfaction of South Africans – new research shows
Ground-breaking research into the internal communications landscape in South Africa delivers much-needed data to help frame employee engagement strategies. Earlier this year New Media partnered with insights consultancy WhyFive, powered by BrandMapp, SA’s largest independent annual survey of economically active South African adults. The study unpacked the state of internal communications by asking key questions that internal communicators are grappling with. The key findings were extensive and revealed that South Africans actually love their jobs. 69% of the respondents said they were ‘quite happy’ or indeed, ‘love their work’. The survey also showed a direct link between South Africans’ job satisfaction and good internal communications. Of the respondents who ‘love their work’, 45% said their company communicated ‘extremely well’ or ‘quite well’. On the flip side, of those respondents who said they were ‘miserable’ in their jobs, 36% felt their employers were bad communicators (compared to only 9% who felt their employers communicated well). What makes this important is the proven link between job satisfaction and productivity. A 2015 study by Mental Health America estimated that disengaged employees cost up to US$500-billion a year in productivity losses. The study showed that the biggest reason employees became disengaged was a lack of trust, and one of the key tools for building trust amongst employees is open and engaging communication. The understanding of the importance of effective communications with employees is on the rise internationally, with a growing body of research clearly indicating how the function is mission critical to the long-term success of organisations. "There has been very little data that shows how South Africans feel about their company’s communication, which platforms they prefer to engage with and what their main topics of interest are,” says Brendan Cooper, head of Internal Communications at New Media. “We …
Woman diver reaching new depths in TNPA
Coming nose to snout with a great white shark would be enough to turn most trainees away from a diving career – but not Makhosazana Sengo. Being one of only two female divers to have entered the Transnet National Ports Authority system, Sengo is well versed in overcoming adversity to achieve her goals. “In that moment I was very scared and traumatised but I overcame the fear by descending again. Now I am so used to seeing sharks during dives. I knew from the beginning that I had to think about the risks involved in this position, that I had to be aware there were a lot of dangers in this job. I also knew that I was entering a very male-dominated environment and I had to overcome all of this so that I could pursue my dream,” Sengo said. Sengo currently serves the Port of Richards Bay as an Acting Civil Diver. She began her career at the port in 2011 as a Diver Attendant, but her links to the port go deeper than her diving tenure alone. Prior to discovering her passion, Sengo – a Mtubatuba resident – was well-known as an arts and crafts vendor stationed on the quayside, supporting her family by selling her beadwork and soft stone sculptures to tourists visiting Richards Bay. Her desire to learn more about the ocean came from an unlikely source – former South African Paralympian, Natalie du Toit. “Here was this woman, who faced so many hardships and was winning gold medals. And I thought, ‘What is stopping me from learning how to swim?’” Sengo began lessons and after achieving her swimming stripes embarked on a lifeguarding course which then led to her earning a sponsorship from the UK-based Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) to participate in a Recreational Diving Course. It was then, that her journey towards becoming a professional diver gained traction. “While I was participating in lifesaving training, I already felt like I wanted to explore the underwater world. It triggered something inside me that told me I was going to be a …
Kwikspace enters channel partnership with Kaap Agri
Kwikspace and Kaap Agri, the specialists in agricultural, fuel and related trade and retail markets in Southern Africa, have entered into a channel partnership that will see Kaap Agri stores promote the Kwikspace offering. The partnership agreement, signed during May 2019, is the first promotional/reseller partnership entered into by Kwikspace. Initial roll-out, which began shortly after the agreement was in place, utilises Kaap Agri stores in Paarl, Franshoek, Ceres and Vredenberg. The Paarl outlet now has Kwikspace’s 3 X 6 m relocatable units on display in open-plan format, with the remaining three stores utilising promotional banners and specifically trained sales personnel to promote the product lines. The tangible display provides customers with a look and feel opportunity, allowing them to familiarise themselves with unit composition. The Kwikspace-trained Kaap Agri sales teams across all stores provide accurate and detailed information on all aspects, including flooring, finish types and the range of available extras like air conditioning, burglar bars, special lighting and other options. “We approached Kaap Agri due to a mutual client profile – specifically in the agricultural and construction industries,” says Mico Botha, Cape Town Reginal Manager, Kwikspace. “They have an established footprint of 60 stores nationally, which provides us with a new platform to market our product lines and access to market. Potential customers in these stores will be able to see how Kwikspace relocatable units can be used for a variety of onsite applications, from accommodation to kitchens and laundries, to dining rooms, offices, store rooms, guard houses and even mobile clinics among many others.” “Kaap Agri is an inspiring and forward-thinking leader in SA business,” says Botha. “They have an open mind to new opportunities and have very approachable leadership. Our entire product range, optional extras and updated pricelists are communicated to the Kaap Agri …
New Systems Sales Manager, Hytec South Africa
Kobus Badenhorst has been appointed the new Systems Sales Manager, Hytec South Africa. His appointment became effective on 6 May 2019. Badenhorst brings 18 years’ experience in the mining and furnace industry and 10 years’ project experience to his new position. Hytec South Africa, a member of the Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group of Companies, is the leader in the design, manufacture, installation, service and repair for total mobile and industrial hydraulic solutions, and is Africa’s largest hydraulics specialist. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Tectra Automation Achieves Bosch Rexroth Service Excellence Certificate
Tectra Automation, a subsidiary of the Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group of Companies, passed its stringent Advanced Technology Audit on drives, motors, controls and frequency convertors to retain its accreditation as a Bosch Rexroth Certified Service Centre. The 2019 audit was conducted at the Rexroth HUBB in Kempton Park by two international auditors from Bosch Rexroth in Lohr, Germany. The audit ascertains whether Tectra Automation’s infrastructure and repair processes, and the qualified employees in accordance with the guidelines of Service Bosch Rexroth, as well as to improve service in general. Having exceeded standards in all four product groups, Tectra Automation retains its official Bosch Rexroth Service Centre Certification which is valid until 2022. “This accreditation confirms that the service and support we offer our customers conforms to the high standards that Bosch Rexroth sets for its distributors,” says Kevin Lombard, General Manager, Tectra Automation. Tectra Automation responds and adapts to African market requirements, serving customers with quality products, leading technical expertise, service and repair support, and conducts its business to international standards. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …