Jachris Hose & Couplings is committed to developing full potential of employees

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16-05-2025
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The Content Engine
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At Jachris Hose & Couplings, skills development is more than just a business strategy. It is a commitment to uplifting every employee and ensuring that no one gets left behind. By investing in its people, the company is building a stronger, more inclusive future where potential is recognised, nurtured and transformed into progress.

As one of Africa’s fastest-growing companies, Jachris Hose & Couplings is committed to empowering its workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to fuel the next phase of its growth and innovation.

This emphasis on developing the full potential of employees spans all the way to the factory floor where specialised skills are needed to operate sophisticated tools, machines and equipment.

Jachris Hose & Coupling’s Group Head of Human Resources, Anastacia Van Den Berg, says that to ensure the company remains at the cutting edge of technology and processes, Jachris Hose & Couplings needs competent operators and artisans. In turn, they must be supported by a team of highly proficient supervisors and line managers, as well as engineers, technicians and technologists. Many of these employees started their careers at the company as general factory workers. Highly dedicated, loyal and proficient, they were encouraged by company management to develop their skills so they could be promoted into strategic positions. As the Head of HR, Van Den Berg sees herself as a mother to both the staff and the company, and she takes immense pride in witnessing employees grow, develop, and succeed through the opportunities and support provided.

“While it is true that manufacturing is undergoing the Fourth Industrial Revolution to improve efficiencies, productivity and safety, a seamless transition into this era can only be achieved with appropriate skills. Machines do not replace jobs; they create better work opportunities and emphasise the need for continuous upskilling, especially at operational level where the nature of work is changing rapidly. Many of our employees have been with us for more than 20 years because they know that we value their contribution and are invested in their success now and in the future. At Jachris Hose & Couplings, no one gets left behind,” she says.

Jachris Hose & Couplings’ training and skills development programmes start by equipping employees with basic literacy and numeracy skills. Once employees have foundational knowledge, they are encouraged to complete adult matric or pursue other paths that lead to a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 as the next step in their learning journey at the company.

Since 2011, more than 100 employees have progressed through the company’s adult literacy and numeracy training programme to attain a General Education and Training Certificate in Adult Education and Training (AET).

More members of staff are currently completing various AET levels. They attend classes that have been coordinated around production schedules and facilitated at a designated area on site. This makes it easier for employees to attend literacy and numeracy classes, ensuring high participation and attendance. Furthermore, this approach establishes a clear connection between the skills taught and the roles of the learners. In this way, employees see the relevance of the training and how it will enable them to grow and develop their careers and as members of the team, keeping them motivated and interested. This approach also helps learners to retain their knowledge for longer because they immediately put it to practice when they leave the classroom.

Meanwhile, a dedicated training facility is being developed on site to accommodate many more employees in future as the company works towards equipping all of its employees working in the factory with basic education skills.

To ensure a high progression rate, Triple E Training, a leader in the provision of adult literacy and numeracy training, was appointed to transfer workplace literacy skills to employees. The company has maintained a consistently high standard of training since it was appointed by Jachris Hose & Couplings to facilitate adult literacy and numeracy training in 2011.

Among Triple E Training’s many learners is Victoria Ngele, who recently completed level 4 literacy and is now attending numeracy classes. Ngele could not afford to rewrite her matric nor was there time in the day to attend classes and study. As a mother, she had to provide for her family and while she postponed completing her basic education, Ngele made this her personal long-term goal.

She was presented with an opportunity to pursue her matric in 2023 by Van Den Berg, who recognised the strong potential in Ngele. To ensure she was well prepared, Van Den Berg recommended that Ngele first complete an Adult Education and Training (AET) programme. This would help to address any gaps in her foundational education and ease her transition back into learning after a long break. Many South Africans find themselves in similar situations. They are unable to complete matric due to limited access to quality early education, particularly in literacy and numeracy. Once learners fall behind in the foundational stages of their schooling, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch up. Even those who do manage to pass often find that their skills are not sufficient for the demands of the workplace, especially if they were taught in a language that is not their mother tongue. Unfortunately, very few individuals in this position are given a second chance.

Although initially sceptical about her ability to learn mathematics due to past challenges with education, Ngele says she is making steady progress. She credits this to the high-quality training provided by Triple E Training. “Anybody can do maths if they’re willing to put in the effort and have a good teacher who knows how to teach the subject. At the same time, I also enjoy the continued support of Anastacia, as well as my line managers and colleagues. Even Warwick Bouwer, Group CEO, and Chris de Lange, Group COO and CFO, regularly check in to see how we are doing. They want us to succeed,” she says.

Ngele is also looking forward to using her newfound knowledge to help her youngest son, eight-year-old Ntoko, develop his maths skills as he advances at school. Ngele also reads regularly to Ntoko, exposing him to new words and ways of using language early on.

Van Den Berg says this is but one example of how Jachris Hose & Couplings’ AET programme is also uplifting families and communities. “We are not only equipping our employees with skills that we need to be a successful company. These are skills that we need to be successful in all aspects of our lives outside the workplace,” she concludes.

 

For more information contact:

David Poggiolini

david@thecontentengine.co.za

Debbie Poggiolini

debbie@thecontentengine.co.za