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Business
“ Additionally , the physical in-person training academy is equipped with a training room and computer hub , along with a practical training space . The facility will feature hands-on units for trainees to gain practical experience in HVAC and refrigeration applications .”
Rogers and her team have been working to develop training courses tailored to Beijer Ref Africa ’ s specific needs . The sales training modules are being built from the ground up , addressing both the technical aspects of HVAC products and essential sales competencies . " There is a lot of content creation involved , especially for specialised topics like sales ," Rogers notes . The company has outsourced some content creation , such as its induction and orientation training , to external partners to streamline the process . The rest of the materials , particularly those related to sales and technical skills , are being developed in-house .
As Rogers explains , the training content is continuously evolving , with new modules and materials being developed regularly . Health and safety training is also a key consideration for the academy . While currently managed by individual Beijer
Ref Africa subsidiaries , the long-term goal is to centralise health and safety training within the academy . " We want to ensure that all employees , regardless of their role , have access to standardised health and safety training ," says Rogers . This will contribute to the creation of a safer work environment across all company platforms .
As with any large-scale training initiative , Rogers anticipates some challenges , particularly around the varying levels of computer literacy among employees . " We are piloting the training with our managers and staff who are already computer literate , but we expect some challenges when rolling it out to the wider workforce ," she acknowledges . However , Rogers sees this as an ongoing process , with continuous feedback helping to refine the training offerings .
The vision for the academy is to serve as a resource for employees to advance in their careers and enhance their skills within the HVAC and refrigeration industry . " We ’ re not aiming to compete with accredited training providers . The academy is here to serve our employees and customers , ensuring they have the skills they need to succeed ." RACA
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RACA Journal I April 2025 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za