Two years ago, in Oslo, Norway, the training partnership between Eskom, Edupark and the University of Limpopo, was awarded a Global Award in the category “Youth Entrepreneurship.”
 
This year, at a ceremony held at the Houston Space Centre in Texas, the partnership received the top award in Africa for the category “Innovative and Creative Partnerships.”
 
Edupark and the University of Limpopo were represented by Ms Adri Williams and Professor Jo Nel. They both enthused about the venue and their encounters with a number of astronauts as well as with the former Johnson Space Center director, Dr George Abbey.
 
“Despite our remarkable success with the programme that we manage where we facilitate the training of emergent contractors, undoubtedly, the standards set this year were very high,” Nel said.
 
Mr Steph Prinsloo, the Eskom programme manager of the initiative, agreed and added that Eskom was proud of its association with the University of Limpopo and its non-profit company, Edupark.
 
“We will be completing the current contract in March, 2019, but the intention is to continue the training for at least the next 3 years,” Prinsloo added. He quoted some astonishing figures, pointing to the achievements of the programme. In total, contracts to the value of approximately R3 billion had been awarded to the students who had completed the programme.
 
“It definitely does what it is intended to do and is based on the fundamental skills required to conduct business in a highly competitive and global environment,” Prinsloo explained.
 
He also sketched a brief background to the Eskom Contractor Academy and revealed some astonishing results. The Eskom Contractors’ Academy programme trains emerging contractors in fundamental business skills over an eight-month period to succeed and contribute to their long-term sustainability. Students attend a study school on campus once a month for a week. The individual modules are accredited by the relevant Sectoral Education Training Authorities.
 
At the core of the program, which is conducted in all provinces in South Africa, lies a curriculum presented by the most able facilitators available in the country. It is based on a strong partnership.
 
Enterprise development is the main goal of the Eskom Contractors' Academy, with Eskom, Edupark and the University of Limpopo as partners, with specific focus on skills development, job creation and poverty alleviation.
 
The objectives are to develop emerging contractors in the fundamental business skills program and to equip emerging contractors with legislative, management, leadership and technical skills to successfully establish and grow sustainable businesses by developing and implementing business plans, budgets, and interpreting financial statements; developing and implementing safety management systems and safety plans for projects; inculcating people management to nurture and develop human resources; understanding the new engineering contracts to successfully tender and procure contracts.
 
The programme was also The 2013 Institute of Management Consultants and Master Coaches of South Africa Project of the Year – First Runner Up; The Amcham Stars of Africa Award in the Community Development and Welfare category at the 2013 American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Stars of Africa Awards; The winner of the 3rd Annual Oliver Tambo Socio-Economic Development Award (for leadership and innovation in the pursuit of empowerment and transformation) ; Trialogue Strategic Corporate Social Investment Award for 2016 (only one award is made in any given year);The 2016 Global Best Awards Africa Gold Winner in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Skills; the 2016 Global Best Awards Overall Global Thematic Winner in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Skills from the International Education Business Partnership Network (IPN).
 
To add to these accolades, the programme was also The 2018 Global Best Awards Africa Gold Winner in Innovative and Creative Partnerships from the International Education Business Partnership Network (IPN).
 

Issued by Eskom