Woermann Brock invests in staff development

WITH changes to Namibian labour legislation making headlines and resulting in a storm of uncertainty in the private sector, Woermann Brock has seen it as an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage over its rivals.

Last month the 118-year old Namibian retailer made a strategic decision to invest heavily in the development of its employees and the investment in human capital in order to create the most efficient workforce in the industry and to lure the best skills to its doorstep. Jesko Woermann from Woermann Retail and Wholesale Group quoted Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, saying that the employees in the organisation is the its greatest asset as they are the ones that works closest to the customers. ‘In order to provide our customers with the best possible service and the best possible prices we need each and every employee working for Woermann Retail and Wholesale Group to operate with the same passion and intensity as that of a retail store owner,’ Woermann said. To reach this level, current employees must be developed to ensure that the best possible employees in the industry forms the core of the Woermann group, he said. Woermann said ‘millions’ have been invested to set up a department to reach this goal in the shortest possible period. ‘We have identified the correct people to drive this vision and we as an organisation have committed ourselves to see it through to the end.’ The drive will not only give Woermann Retail and Wholesale Group a competitive advantage but will also serve as part of its social responsibility as the skills created within the organisation will filter through to the rest of the society. ‘One needs to realise that 90 per cent of our staff are from previous disadvantaged families and that the skills that we will be giving these employees will eventually result in an improvement in the standard of living of those families,’ Woermann said.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.