WoolWorths holdings limited 2013 good BUsiness JoUrneY report

Principals’ seminars
Woolworths was approached by the Department of
Education in 2011 to co-host a seminar for principals,
sharing our best practice insights regarding our Values
and Quality-driven business approach.
This past year, topics included ‘Leadership”, presented
by Simon Susman, and “Educating for the workplace”,
presented by Sam Ngumeni. This year’s seminar will
include Ian Moir, Woolworths CEO, presenting “Leadership”
and “the Woolworths Values”; Mike Gardiner, Regional
Manager Western Cape, covering “Operational Excellence”;
and Braam Malherbe extreme adventurer and MySchool
ambassador.
Making the Difference Through Design
The Making the Difference Through Design Programme
for High Schools, developed by Woolworths in conjunction
with the Western Cape Education Department, was
launched in February 2006 as an aid to Design and
Visual Arts teachers. The programme aims to create a
greater awareness and appreciation of design, to inspire
Design learners in Grades 10 to 12 to develop their own
talents, and to help them gain valuable life skills which
they will be able to apply no matter what career path they
follow. Today, through the Resource Guides, an annual
design competition, teacher workshops and website, and
with the support of our programme partners – Sappi,
Design Indaba, Western Cape Education Department,
Open Window School of Visual Communication and
Learning Curve, the programme plays an integral
role in Design and Visual Arts classes.
Our 2012 design competition challenged learners to
solve a problem in their community, using only recycled
materials to develop the final product or prototype. Artemis
Spyropolous, a Grade 10 learner from Redhill High in
Gauteng, was crowned the National Winner. She designed
a scooter made from recycled material that addresses
the problem of learners in townships having to walk long
distances to schools.
Each year, the winner’s work is exhibited at the Woolworths
stand the Annual Design Indaba Expo. We also have the
opportunity to host 400 Design learners and their teachers
at the Design Indaba Expo on the opening morning of the
event. Our 2013 design competition, which is currently in
progress, now challenges learners to identify a problem at
their schools or neighbouring schools which can be solved
by Design. A national winner and two runners-up will be
announced in September 2013