Tata International to Distribute John Deere Construction and Forestry in Ghana and Nigeria

Tata International Africa Ghana recently played its part in the midst of the COVID-19 global crisis. The entire team from the Accra and Tamale branches worked together to deliver food parcels, face masks and hot meals to members of the Tamale community. All this was possible due to the efforts of the Tata International Africa Ghana employees who contributed money from their own pockets which was added to Tata International’s donation of $500 (US Dollars). “The employees and management of our Ghana office saw it fitting to come together and focus their efforts on ameliorating the pain and hardships of the vulnerable in their society. Food parcels containing; rice, pasta, oil, fish cans, tomatoes, beans and other non-perishables were distributed to the farmers of the Tamale region, where most of the farmers of the country are concentrated,” said Len Brand, CEO of Tata International Africa. “Witnessing the hope of many, especially the vulnerable who have been affected by the global crisis, touched us as an organisation. It is because of such dire circumstances that we felt compelled to lend a hand to the people most affected during these times. Seeing our team members working side by side to better the lives of this community, made it even more impactful. Their unselfish willingness to go the extra mile by giving of their own time and money has truly touched our hearts as an organisation,” adds Brand. The distribution of the food parcels was one of two projects that the team managed on the day, with the other being a tribute to the community from the Accra team. Again, personal contributions were utilised by the team to purchase 200 face masks, prepared 100 hot meals and 100 food parcels to the homeless and vulnerable people from the community. In total, the Accra and Tamale branches were collectively able to distribute 200 food parcels. This is only the beginning for the team, as they have committed themselves to facilitating such humanitarian efforts on a monthly basis, as and when they are able to. “No words can explain the feeling that comes with giving back. I am humbled and proud of the team and congratulate them on their unselfish commitment at this time,” concludes Brand.

Tata International Africa has contributed funds towards the building of a War Games Centre in Jinja. The centre was developed to enhance the capacity of regional armies in order to fortify their peace keeping efforts across countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Burundi, Somalia and Rwanda. Ugandan President, the Honourable Yoweri Museveni inaugurated the war game centre, which was conceptualised by Indian military team for Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF). While commissioning the wargame centre at the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka in Jinja District, the President said, “This centre is also a great gesture of the wider cooperation and support we enjoy with the government and the people of India.” The war game centre is named ‘INDIA’ and is a type of strategy game that simulates warfare realistically, as opposed to abstract strategy games such as chess. Brigadier Ranjit Singh, Head of the Indian military team said that it is a fitting token of gratitude from the Indian community of Uganda for the UPDF, which has been the stabilising force in Uganda and the region for over three decades. He said that the landmark training aid will help make the UPDF Senior Command and Staff College a centre of excellence in the entire region and it will remain a lasting symbol of the special bond that Indians in Uganda share with UPDF and India shares with Uganda.

Tata International Africa has developed a learning and development work related skills training course for technical students, which it plans to roll out across 13 African countries over the next year. “We firmly believe that learning and development is essential for people to gain skills in order to progress in their career and even in life. Importantly, it helps build successful communities and thriving economies – all underpinning Tata’s ethos of the upliftment of people and communities,” says Len Brand, CEO of Tata International Africa. A skills and development training course to uplift skill levels of the technical workforce was set in motion. The training team at Tata International Africa created a framework of questionnaires on the needs and competency levels of technicians, for both theory and practical modules. During the creation of the framework, inputs were taken from various stakeholders such as workshop managers, country aftersales heads and training managers. The framework was finally reviewed by the various business unit heads of Aftersales, Human Resources and Business Excellence (Distribution). A pilot project on Skills Assessment and Gap Analysis for workshop technicians was recently conducted at the Tata International Africa Lagos, Nigeria workshop. A total of 37 technicians (including contract staff) were taken through the assessment tests. Competency was defined in six categories in both theory and practical tests. Both tests were mapped in accordance with a truck model sold in that particular country. The categories are: Electrical / Electronic Diagnostics Clutch and Braking system Transmission and Axles Engine Analysis General Servicing “We received very positive feedback from all the participants who were eager to enhance their skills and to put their learnings from the sessions into practice. “The training modules are currently being fine-tuned. We will also be creating new ones during the course of 2020, which will be customised for all 13 African countries Tata International Africa operates in. We look forward to rolling out the competency assessment test and training modules to all countries in the next 12 months,” concludes Brand.

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has launched an initiative to train under-privileged youth from Africa under the SkillPro program, in an effort to enhance employability for the African youth. Judas Tlou Kobo and Lesego Faith Banda were the two students selected under the programme and were invited to participate in the company’s intensive nine-month SkillPro training, in India. Attending the training programme, gave Judas and Faith the chance to build their skill set and advance their careers in the automotive industry. “After completing my studies, I did an apprenticeship programme at Tshwane Municipality for three years,” says Judas. “Here, they train students and offer them learner-ships in trade skills. I was at home for a while, and was looking for work; that is how I stumbled upon Tata Motors. It so happened that there was an opening for SkillPro students at the time, and I was the first candidate to be selected.” Faith Banda was one of only two girls from Africa to be selected to join the group of 24 trainees. “I always had an interest in cars, from a young age,” she says. I was applying for a job at the time, and Tata Motors reached out and informed me about the SkillPro programme. I was keen to partake because I wanted to grow my knowledge. I knew that Tata Motors manufactured cars, but I didn’t know that they also manufactured trucks and buses.” The Tata Motors SkillPro programme is a unique, all-expenses paid, skills development initiative, which involves both theory and practical knowledge on commercial vehicles, including different types of engines, gearboxes, axle systems, and repairing of trucks. It includes a 10-day visit to the dealer workshop, where students attend to actual problems of real customers as part of their training. “I really enjoyed the electrical training, because I went there with some knowledge of mechanical engineering. I knew nothing about electrical engineering, so I acquired a new skill,” says Judas. “We got a chance to train on all parts of the machinery – whether it was assembling an engine or working on a gearbox,” says Faith. “Everyone got a chance to work on everything. I really enjoyed the on-the-job practical training.” Over and above the technical knowledge acquired, students are also given language classes to improve their English, as well as yoga and music classes. There is also a weekly visit to one of Tata’s CSR projects in and around Jamshedpur, India. Once back in their home countries, the students join the local Tata distributor network for a further three to six months of training. Based on their performance during this period, they may be offered a job. The student is, however, not contractually bound to Tata once they complete their training, and is free to pursue their own career path. Faith and Judas are no strangers to adversity, and their advice to other young people eager to acquire marketable skills and enter the job market, is to keep believing and to never give up on one’s dreams. “For us as a company, this programme is a step towards delivering better customer satisfaction,” says Len Brand, CEO of Tata International Africa. “As our students become professionals, who have been trained on Tata’s latest products and technology, so they will become better equipped to handle our local customers’ needs. It is also a wonderful window to different cultures for the students. As a result, they become more receptive to different sets of people and situations, and more global in their outlook. These students also become our biggest brand ambassadors.”