On the 1st of February 2013 IZWE Training and Development was launched. Evolving from CIETS (Construction Industry Education and Training Services), IZWE promises a new era of training and development for the construction and related industries; as well as a greater commitment to South Africa’s economy and people. The launch was held at the IZWE offices in Chloorkop, and included all the relevant players in the construction and ancillary industries. Bernadette Oliphant, CEO of the former CIETS since 2008 unveiled the new IZWE logo, and during her speech she reaffirmed the new strategy and vision: “We look at the bigger picture – from learnerships, to graduate development, to management programmes. To us it’s not about reactive ad hoc training to meet BEE scorecards or contractual requirements, but rather on delivering quality holistic educational programmes that produce real and relevant results in the construction and associated industries…and in people’s lives.”

The name IZWE means people or citizens, and it connotes people power, citizenship, land, and our nation. Bernadette further expanded on the choice of the new name: “It’s a name we readily identify with as we develop people holistically - we give them the tools to ensure they become accountable, responsible citizens, contributing to the growth and wellbeing of our nation and our economy.” The new logo is a baobab tree – a distinctly African tree that symbolizes knowledge and life, and feeds into the new IZWE tagline: ‘Innovative training and development for life’.

In a landscape of poor education and training, and construction industry scandals, IZWE’s contribution to society involves investing in people and guiding client companies on a transformative process – helping them to become accountable, with longer term development planning. This new focus is underpinned by their new positioning: “The ‘go-to’ partners passionate about delivering employable skills and life skills though quality cooperative education in the construction & related sectors, shaping peoples lives and supporting a sustainable infrastructure & SA economy.”

In the spirit of inviting their clients into their new training territory, all guests at the launch were issued with ‘passports’, which were then stamped with an IZWE ‘visa of entry’. The guests were also treated to a hand’s on demonstration of holistic learning, as the launch was not just the usual cheese and wine affair, but an education in French artisanal goats cheese making and South Africa’s top 12 Chenin Blanc wines. As Bernadette explained: “In the spirit of our new name and brand positioning, we have planned something for today, for you to share in our growth as a family – an experience that will hopefully add to your holistic development, that you can take away and share with others at the table - a place for conversations.” The launch of IZWE Training and Development promises exciting new innovation – not just for the construction and associated industries, but also for South Africa and her people.