One of the easiest ways to achieve a high level on the B-BBEE Scorecard is to focus on the Skills Development element of B-BBEE investment. This measures the extent to which employers carry out initiatives that are designed to develop the competencies of Black employees and Black people inside and outside of their business.
“Many of Lanham-Love Consulting’s clients, when they initially approach us, recognise the need to hit these skills development targets, but are stymied by the fact that they simply do not have enough employees in order to meet the requirements of this element of the B-BBBEE scorecard,” says Angie Lanham-Love, CEO of Lanham-Love Consulting.
So, what can one do in this case? Is it possible to bypass this requirement? Or is there another way to meet it?
“This is a particular benefit of partnering with Lanham-Love Consulting for your B-BBEE needs,” says Lanham-Love. “We opened The Lanham-Love Academy, or The LLC Academy, in 2017, specifically in part to account for this issue. The Lanham-Love Academy, a 73.57% Black Owned, Level 2 Qualifying Small Enterprise, designs and implements Skills Development programmes directly in line with your B-BBEE strategy. With a focus on the growth and development of your people and the social upliftment of young members of our society, The LLC Academy is equipped to design the required skills program that suits your company’s structure and earns you maximum B-BBEE points.”
“It is worthwhile to note that skills points are awarded for employed as well as unemployed learners,” says Lanham-Love. “Through programmes such as Teach-A-Teacher, Support-A-School, or even the YOUᵀᴴ Programme, your company can achieve your skills development targets through the sponsorship and investment in unemployed learners. Furthermore, the salary costs for employed delegates contribute to skills spend targets while they are involved in the programme.”
“This does not, however, stop at merely meeting the skills development requirements for your B-BBEE spend,” says Lanham-Love. “By sponsoring programmes such as these, your company will also benefit from Procurement Benefits, as spending with The LLC Academy is recognised at 125% and counts 4 times on your procurement scorecard. As the LLC Academy is a valid ED/SD beneficiary, you can also meet your Socio-Economic Development and Enterprise Supplier Development targets, through further contributions to The LLC Academy. Everything is meticulously documented to ensure that verification is simply achieved.”
“At Lanham-Love Consulting, we pride ourselves on innovatively embracing and integrating transformation to the point of business growth and development,” says Lanham-Love. “Our key philosophy is to create solutions that result in additional benefits and increased compliance across multiple elements of the scorecard. We firmly believe that B-BBEE can – and should – benefit all involved.”
If you wish to ensure that the money and time you spend on Skills Development is maximised on your B-BBEE Scorecard, speak to one of the consultants and Lanham-Love Consulting. We are ideally positioned to ensure comprehensive B-BBEE compliance.