Johannesburg, 01 Feb 2011
Globally, millions of new workers enter the workplace every year. Many of them have technical or industry-specific skills, yet they lack basic business know-how. At the same time, employers are faced with the challenge of having to identify the most qualified people to employ, and those requiring the least training.
Bytes People Solutions is addressing this challenge by offering the Certified Business Professional Programme (CBP), a high-level, quick and economical solution for advancing and measuring employees' business skills sets. A programme of the International Business Training Association (IBTA), the CBP is internationally accredited.
“The problem employers face is that soft skills are always difficult to measure,” says Madelise Grobler, MD of Bytes People Solutions. “What CBP provides is an international industry benchmark that validates and develops the business professional. It's suitable for anyone in pursuit of excellence, who is committed to exceeding and surpassing standards in their business environment.”
The CBP programme establishes a foundation-level industry-neutral certification for business professionals and enables employers to develop candidates for targeted positions in an organisation.
At the foundation level, five certifications are offered: leadership, customer service, sales, business etiquette, and business communication. By completing one of these programmes, the candidate acquires the designation of Certified Business Professional.
Candidates who complete all five programmes are given the designation of CBP Executive.
Those who go on to do an additional programme in project management, business management, computer technology specialisation or tourism become CBP Master Executives.
“The benefits of certification to a company are manifold,” says Grobler. “They include access to a network of global industry and subject matter experts; credibility that arises from the rigour and regimen of the certification examinations; enhanced production and performance levels of candidates; and the establishment of best practices; greater customer satisfaction and a skilled workforce. In addition, the CBP is simple and reliable and can easily be integrated into existing recruitment and training processes.”
The international certification is equally beneficial for employees. It confirms a working knowledge of business and technology skills, and can be a career differentiator because it broadens their credentials. “By providing proof of professional achievement, certification enhances employability and provides a solid foundation for the pursuit of additional career paths,” adds Grobler. She says CBP training is ideal to address the following:
* Internal communication issues
* Customer service issues
* Defining behaviour that is appropriate for the business environment
* The problem of missed deadlines
* Mistakes made by people who take or make orders
* Managing by crisis instead of planning
Each course is delivered over two to five days, with examinations taking place not more than three months after completion. Examinations are delivered by Thomson Prometric. “Candidates receive in-depth coaching and mentoring from Bytes People Solutions trainers who are themselves business consultants and not just training facilitators,” Grobler notes. “The courses and examinations are demanding and require commitment from both the employer and the candidate.”
Bytes People Solutions also offers several other soft skills courses focusing on interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, and business skills for companies that would like a quick intervention for their staff.
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