In an interview with Techfinancials, CEO Eileen Wilton says Gijima wants to continue to develop its Human Capital Management business. The business, which is relatively not well-known, plays in the recruitment and placement space. It also develops much needed-skills. By Gugu Lourie
“Human Capital Management Business is a key focus for us going into the future and our human capital business is a very special business for Gijima,” Wilton told Techfinancials.
“We want to make a sustainable difference and sustainable difference is about how you can contribute [solutions] to [tackle] core problems that are being faced by South Africans.”
Simply put – Gijima cares about South Africa. The company is creating access to opportunities for the unemployed and tackling poverty through job creation.
While it may seem unusual for a technology firm to run a human capital management business, Gijima sees value in it by focusing on internships and learnerships – an expertise preserved for companies focusing on human capital development.
Over the past three years, Gijima has trained more than 700 people in various digital skills. Last year, the company had 75 people on learnerships and 200 interns.
“We have obtained employment in the internship of 98%. We think that’s phenomenal in terms of a track record,” said Wilton.
Gijima continues to grow and expand its internship programme and aims to help interns to be the best digital citizens.
“But in every client we have, we can enable them to grow their digital capabilities that further enables the productivity in the current company, but it enables access to future opportunities.
“So we wish to do that for South Africa and the rest of the African continent,” she said. “That Human Capital Management business also has to do only not with acquisition of skills or training, development and internship programmes; it also has to do with recruitment and placement.
“That’s a key growth business for us. But growth business not only just to make money. It’s much more about what role Gijima plays to be part of the greater good.”
Gijima’s Human Capital Business, which operates predominantly in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, employs plus minus 200 people.
The business, which has been a star performer in Gijima even during the tough times, was also involved in artisan programme for energy firm Eskom’s Medupi Power’s training.
“So, you can see we don’t restrict ourselves to just ICT training and development. ICT is part of our core vision, but once you have capability to grow skills you have ability to grow many kind of skills,” said Wilton.
It is clear Gijima’s Human Capital Management will continue to look for more growth opportunities in all sectors of the economy.
