In line with the company group values of People, Integrity, Performance and Professionalism, Edcon the leading clothing, footwear and textiles retail group, continuously supports young black professionals through various initiatives and partnerships, one in particular is its work with the Black Management Forum and investment in a number of youth development programmes.
Edcon is a corporate member and strategic partner of the Black Management Forum for the past five years and for the last two years the company has supported the BMF Student Chapter by hosting the National Seminar at the Edcon Retail Academy, the center of retail learning for the group. These young leaders gather from all ends of South Africa to debate, learn and interact with key thought leaders in the country.
An example of Edcon’s commitment to the development of youth was the launch of a bursary programme in celebration of Edgars’ 80th birthday. Edcon’s Transformation and Corporate Affairs Department made 80 bursaries available for students studying towards a tertiary qualification in merchandising and retail operations from second year. The institutions that we have partnered with are University of Johannesburg, Durban University of Technology and Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Holistic development of young people is critical and to this end Edcon partnered with City Year South Africa and is one of the founding sponsors of the programme. City Year South Africa which focuses on the development of South African youth provides a one year full time service programme, leadership development and skills training for South African youth who are between ages 18 and 25. The training offered also incorporates formal, accredited training and through this training the graduates are channeled towards exit opportunities such as formal employment, learnerships, or bursaries for further study.
As part of community service, the young people are also given an opportunity to participate in an After School Programme which focuses on improving literacy levels of learners in the primary schools located in impoverished communities around Johannesburg.
The commitment to transform and aid young professionals and in particular black professional is a high priority on Edcon Transformation agenda and through this commitment one of the largest sectors in South Africa’s economy will invariably contribute tremendously in addressing the skills challenge facing the country.