Queen Zuma, Factory Manager, Nairobi, Kenya
Years with the company: 14
Career path at Nestlé: Laboratory Analyst (Pietermaritzburg Factory, South Africa), Microbiologist and Senior Analyst in Quality Assurance, Factory Hygienist. Production Manager for Beverages (Estcourt, South Africa), Project Business Analyst (CT/IP Switzerland).

Of our 11,500 employees in Africa, fewer than 120 are foreign. By building the skills of our local workforce, we make a significant contribution to strengthening the business environment.

Because Nestlé relies heavily on strong, regional operations, a competent local workforce is essential. In Africa, particularly in countries where the quality of education varies, investment in employees is critically important.

Nestlé is known for identifying, cultivating and promoting leaders within our own ranks. We have five global training centers including an international center in Switzerland, where African managers receive training. The result is a highly competent global leadership team, embracing common Nestlé values and business principles, but equipped with experience and local cultures and environments.

We provide continuous educational opportunities at all levels, from basic education and training, to specific business skills such as sales and marketing, accounting; and leadership and management. We offer on-the-job training, support tertiary education, send managers to visit other countries and offer an extensive series of online e-learning programs. We also reach out to students with apprenticeship programmes and other educational support.

One example is the Nestlé Apprenticeship Programme. In 2004, Nestlé South Africa enrolled twelve people from disadvantaged communities into its Apprentice School, which is situated within the company’s East London factory in the Eastern Cape. The apprentices were previously employed as artisan assistants and had not had the opportunity to develop into fully fledged artisans. Four of the twelve apprentices received their qualification, two of which were women. Nestlé has invested over 1million Rand (USD 132,000) into this program.