DGB group chief executive Ricardo Ferreira says the Company was able to improve on its B-BBEE objectives through focussed commitment to skills development of both employed and unemployed learners, procurement through accredited local suppliers, and enterprise and supplier development.
“At DGB we are committed to meaningful transformation that creates substantive growth and economic wellbeing for South Africans in the environment and industry in which we operate. Our mission is to build brands with unrivalled passion. That passion extends to our commitment to the empowerment of our employees, their families and the broader DGB community,” Ferreira says.
DGB has a multifaceted approach to empowerment which prioritises educational and entrepreneurial projects in the communities that are impacted by the business.
Education and literacy efforts focus on the availability of resources and technology while entrepreneurial skills development programmes focus on programmes that enable communities to provide for their own immediate needs and empower them to improve themselves and their communities in the future.
DGB also generously donates to education-related initiatives through the DGB Charitable Trust.
Since 2017 DGB has awarded a host of bursaries to deserving youth who qualified for tertiary studies and has put a significant number of adults through Adult Education and Training.
DGB’s Realise Programme focusses specifically on equipping disabled youth with basic life skills and continues to grow from strength to strength.
This year DGB has also given multiple interns and apprentices the opportunity for on-the-job experience and has supported young people through the YES4YOUTH CAMPAIGN. A further group of youth have received NQF qualifications in Production Technology through learnerships.
Underpinning all of DGB’s strategic objectives, is attracting, retaining, and developing a truly diversified workforce. Out of its sizable workforce, 73% are of colour, and of a junior management level upwards, 53% are women and 44% are of colour.
“Our approach to empowerment touches on the lives of people in our communities from early childhood development all the way through to university and employment. Achieving level 4 B-BBEE status demonstrated that our efforts to uplift the communities in which we operate through education and skills development has real impact,” Ferreira concludes.
Teachers from Wellington in the Western Cape gather outside the DGB Trust's Mobile Library and Computer Centre which carries 5000 books and 20 computers, through the Wellington rural area, stopping a full day at each of eight carefully selected primary schools. The centre is part of DGB's ongoing efforts to empower the community in Wellington and touches the lives of more than 1500 children from the eight primary schools, annually.