How Impactful Specialist Solutions Delivered a Disability Learnership Programme for Sanlam
Sanlam has always believed in empowering people to become economically productive citizens. In practice, this commitment drives every aspect of their talent and transformation strategy. Specifically, Sanlam partnered with Impactful Specialist Solutions, part of the LRMG group, to run a structured disability learnership South Africa programme. As a result, Sanlam built a more diverse, inclusive workforce in the financial services sector.
What Sanlam Needed From a Disability Learnership Partner in South Africa
Sanlam recognised the necessity of giving people with dissabilities a genuine chance against unemployment. In practice, improving workforce diversity required a specialist approach. However, the persistent lack of suitably qualified candidates made this difficult. As a result, Sanlam needed a partner with specific experience in disability recruitment, training and placement. Specifically, the goal was to find a provider who could manage the full process from end to end.
How LRMG's Impactful Specialist Solutions Approached the Disability Learnership South Africa Programme
Learnerships are one of the most effective tools for building a diverse and inclusive workforce. In practice, they combine formal learning with practical workplace experience. Specifically, Impactful Specialist Solutions began the process with placement in mind. First, the team identified actual openings in businesses where candidates could be hired full-time. In addition, a specialist recruiter for people with dissabilities selected candidates according to job description, competencies, skills and knowledge.
From there, all candidates completed numeracy and literacy assessments. As a result, only the most suitable candidates were shortlisted for interviews. Following that, candidates trained in the financial services field. In addition, each learner received a recognised qualification upon completion. They also gained important professional experience. As a result, graduates entered the workforce with both the credentials and the practical knowledge they needed.
Value Delivered to Date
- 227 impaired learners trained since 2017
- 40% of these learners were placed in Sanlam, the remainder in other institutions
Learner feedback
How is your journey as a student going?
“So far everything is going well, the class environment, as well as the building facilities, are good.”
What positive impact does this learnership program have on your life personally?Â
“The end-user program has helped me a lot because I had less knowledge about computers and now, I am learning more. I am also building up my curriculum.”
Client comments
1. Why did you choose Impactful Specialist Solutions?
“We have a long-term relationship with this provider, with a proven track record to assist Sanlam to deliver on this strategic project.”
2. What do you think made our offering stand out from other options?
“Experience in training people with dissabilities and previous collaboration with Impactful Specialist Solutions on special projects. Furthermore, their knowledge and capacity to execute projects of this nature.”
3. Having worked with Impactful Specialist Solutions in the past, is there anything that exceeded your expectations this time around?
“Their project management ability with projects of this nature and managing potential risks. Impactful Specialist Solutions also has the ability to identify and propose solutions to mitigate risks.”
What This Case Study Demonstrates About Disability Learnerships in South Africa
Sanlam’s disability learnership South Africa programme shows what is possible when a leading financial institution commits to genuine transformation. Since 2017, Impactful Specialist Solutions has trained 227 impaired learners. In addition, 40% of graduates secured permanent placement at Sanlam itself. Furthermore, the remainder found placement at other institutions. As a result, every graduate entered the workforce with a recognised qualification and real professional experience.
For South African organisations looking to build a B-BBEE skills development strategy that creates real employment outcomes, this case study shows both the approach and the results that are possible. To find out more about disability learnerships and skills development programmes for your organisation, contact the LRMG team through our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions: Disability Learnerships in South Africa
What is a disability learnership in South Africa?
A disability learnership is a structured programme that combines learning with practical workplace experience. Specifically, it is designed for people with physical, sensory, intellectual or psychiatric disabilities. In South Africa, learnerships are registered with the relevant SETA. As a result, they produce a nationally recognised qualification. In addition, disability learnerships are an important tool for organisations working to build diverse, inclusive workforces and meet B-BBEE skills development targets.
How do disability learnerships help organisations meet B-BBEE requirements?
Disability learnerships contribute directly to an organisation’s B-BBEE scorecard under the skills development element. Specifically, organisations earn points for skills development spend, the number of learners trained and employment outcomes. In addition, learnership investment can qualify for tax incentives under Section 12H of the Income Tax Act. As a result, disability learnerships are commercially attractive beyond their transformation and social impact value.
What does the Sanlam disability learnership programme involve?
The Sanlam disability learnership programme involves a structured recruitment and selection process. Specifically, Impactful Specialist Solutions uses a specialist recruiter for people with dissabilities. In addition, the process includes numeracy and literacy assessments, training in financial services and placement support upon completion. As a result, since 2017, the programme has trained 227 impaired learners. Furthermore, 40% were placed permanently at Sanlam and the remainder at other institutions.
Why choose Impactful Specialist Solutions for disability learnership facilitation?
Impactful Specialist Solutions brings specialist experience in running learnerships for people with dissabilities. In addition, they have a proven track record with major South African financial institutions. Specifically, Sanlam’s own feedback highlights Impactful’s ability to manage risk and execute complex programmes to the required standard. As a result, organisations that partner with Impactful benefit from end-to-end management of the full recruitment, training and placement process.
How does LRMG support skills development and learnership programmes in South Africa?
Through Impactful Specialist Solutions, LRMG supports the full learnership lifecycle. Specifically, this covers candidate recruitment and assessment, programme facilitation, qualification delivery and graduate placement. In addition, LRMG provides broader skills development strategy, B-BBEE scorecard advisory and talent development solutions. As a result, learnership investment connects directly to long-term workforce capability. To find out more, contact the LRMG team.
