Learnership scheme

In addition, the company has – in collaboration with its training department – developed a learnership scheme in basic mining and engineering related disciplines – for promising and talented young sportsmen. The learnership scheme, which started in January 2009 provides full time skills training, while at the same time providing the talented young sportsmen with professional sporting training. This scheme ensures that sportsmen and women who may or may not become professionals for a limited period of time, have a career to fall back on once their sporting careers come to end, and provides Impala with a source of trained talent.

Sports development

The development of historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs) is an important feature of the programme, with a grass roots outreach programme a fundamental part of the initiative. Scores of young South Africans in the region are being exposed to a variety of sporting disciplines, and the discipline, team spirit and the other positive characteristics associated with sport. This outreach initiative extends into local schools too, where training is providing in coaching and refereeing/umpiring, so that they too become ambassadors of sport.