Perfect score for Total Reward internship programme

Musa Masingi, Nkateko Sithole, Nyeleti Mugari and Pumelela Mpengula will go down in history as the tenth group of graduates that have benefited, together with industry, from the South African Reward Association (SARA) internship programme. The programme was launched in 2006 to offer South Africa the best in Total Reward – a profession very few people know about.

“Total Reward includes everything valuable to an employee in relation to his/her employment, including salary, benefits and their experience of their workplace,” says Yolanda Sedlmaier, head of the SARA internship programme. “Reward professionals make sure an employer does everything it can to attract, inspire and retain the best possible workforce, while still increasing profits year on year.”

SARA is a professional body, approved by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) that aims to promote and develop the reward profession in South Africa. SARA facilitates training, networking events, an annual conference and accredits Reward Specialists with professional designations.

As part of its development efforts, SARA annually accepts into its internship programme four previously disadvantaged South Africans that have obtained a Bachelors or Honours degree in Industrial Psychology, Human Resources Management, Organisational Psychology, or People Management.

All 35 interns that have completed the programme since 2006 have accepted employment opportunities in the reward field at the end of the programme.

The programme runs for six months and is structured to provide an opportunity for the interns to learn the basics of the reward profession. The interns are also expected to complete the Global Remuneration Professional (GRP) qualification, attending various training opportunities by the country’s top reward professionals and spending time with SARA member companies to gain valuable practical experience. 

The programme also includes work readiness training, and provides each intern with a laptop and the associated tools required to kick-start their careers.

“We are immensely grateful to our 2015 sponsors; PwC, the Hay Group, SARS and Dimension Data,” says Sedlmaier. “With their support, the reward industry in SA has this year once again gained four future leaders who will make a significant difference to the businesses in which they operate, and communities that they serve.”

ENDS
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MEDIA CONTACT: Cathlen Fourie, 012 644 2833, [email protected], www.atthatpoint.co.za  

For more information on SARA please visit:
Website: www.sara.co.za  
Twitter: @SA_reward
LinkedIn: South African Reward Association
Facebook: SARA – South African Reward Association

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