Innovative Learning Solutions celebrates one year of operation

Code-14 truck driver training and testing centre Innovative Learning Solutions (ILS) is thriving in the tough economic climate created by the Covid-19 pandemic, injecting valuable skills into South Africa’s vital transport sector.

Established to address the lack of truck driving competency identified by its sister company Innovative Staffing Solutions before the onset of the crisis, ILS celebrates its first year in operation this month, having opened its doors in June last year.

ILS is part of outsourced services and solutions provider Innovative Solutions Group (ISG), which, following its establishment in 2011, was awarded Best Outsourcing Service Provider in Africa at the 2017 Africa Leadership Awards.

Strong truck driving skills are critical to the effective functioning of South Africa’s economy, with transport and logistics identified as essential services during the hard lockdown last year.

However, the rising number of Covid-19 infections in South Africa threatens the sector’s well-being, highlighting the need for more Code-14 truck drivers.

ILS provides truck drivers and their employers with easy and affordable access to the training, development and career support they deserve at its Boksburg facilities in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

“We train drivers to not only be better operators and more comfortable when performing their duties but also how to recognise good working conditions,” says ISG founder and CEO Arnoux Maré, the winner of the 2019 Africa Leadership Awards’ CEO of the Year.

Through its Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) accredited courses, ILS aims to elevate truck drivers’ CVs above those of other job applicants when they compete for better employment opportunities.

By addressing the weaknesses specific to each drivers’ skill set, the company also adds tangible value to the companies that employ ILS-trained drivers. Transformation has been a priority at ILS since its inception, given that transport is a heavily male dominated profession. Recruitment at ILS has been conducted with particular emphasis on employing directly from local communities (50% of staff) and women (35%).

“We equip truck drivers with superior skills that reduce operating costs and make them safer operators, reducing truck-related road accidents and fatalities,” says Maré, who also stresses the company’s focus on making the transport sector a safer industry in general, where drivers can operate without the fear of being targets of violence.

ILS aims to position itself as Africa’s largest Code-14 truck driver training and testing centre and has trained more than 8 000 truck drivers to date.

“Our clients have been exceptionally happy with our services,” notes Maré.

By combining theoretical and practical training with well-qualified tutors and driver trainers, ILS produces self-empowered drivers who are encouraged to perform better in the market, uplifting the sector overall, he advances.

The company’s confidence in its training is evident through its gainful employment of about 1 200 unemployed ILS-trained drivers, including a feisty female trainee who now works as an ILS driver trainer, assisting young drivers with their beginner and intermediate courses.

“With South Africa’s employment rate at a record low, ILS is doing a great job of curbing unemployment,” emphasises Maré, highlighting the company’s appetite for growth.

“We plan on opening more training centres in South Africa, especially in rural communities which don’t always have the means to travel to big cities for training.”

However, while it is considering expansion into other markets, the company is conscious of not spreading itself too thin and negatively impacting the high level of service it delivers.

After a year in operation, and in celebrating its first year of operation and its first birthday during June, the company also used the opportunity to invite media to showcase its centre of training excellence. The event also served to reiterate the importance of truck driver training and its impact on ensuring safety on the road for all users. In addition, ILS invited aspiring youth from a local children’s home, Kid’s Haven, to experience an introduction to a career in trucking and be inspired by their amazing driver trainers.

As the organisation enters its second year, Maré says the future looks promising. “We’re looking forward to the future but remain cognizant that this milestone would not have been possible without the support of our dedicated team and loyal client base. We’re very grateful for that,” he concludes.