Equipment supplier Barloworld Equipment – a division of JSE-listed Barloworld – recently launched its 40/20 strategy, which aims to increase women representation to about 40% of the company’s staff by 2020.

Barloworld Equipment marketing and communications executive director Samantha Swanepoel says the company currently employs about 5 500 people, most of whom are technically-skilled engineers, mechanics, technicians and artisans. They operate across the 11 Southern African territories where Barloworld Equipment is active. “Through the 40/20 strategy, we plan to boost women representation to 40% of our workforce, from 22% currently.”

The 40/20 strategy involves attracting young women into mainly mechanical engineering and artisanship, which are critical skills for anyone interested in working with the large, complex earthmoving machines that Barloworld Equipment supplies to the mining and construction industries. The company provides its clients with a range of services, including sales, after-sales support (management, product support and customer service), rentals, training, parts and logistics.

“Although we invite [people of both] genders to apply for our graduate programme, we have a bias towards encouraging females to get into our field, which is male-dominated. “We believe that women are as capable as men and can hold their own in this field,” she explains.

Barloworld Equipment, which is the sole dealer for equipment manufacturer Caterpillar’s earthmoving machines and power systems in Southern African, has launched training and development programmes for women to ensure it achieves its target.

“At secondary or high school level, we have launched the Techno-girls programme to get girls to be more passionate and excited about maths and science, as these subjects are a route to getting into our field,” notes Swanepoel, adding that Barloworld Equipment has also partnered with Caterpillar to develop an online platform, known as Technicians for Africa, which provides access to modules in English, French and Portuguese for trainee technicians and artisans.

Further, in Tete, Mozambique, Barloworld Equipment has rolled out a container with ten workstations, as part of the Technicians for Africa programme, where young people from underprivileged families who cannot afford Internet access obtain the modules free of charge.

Women are trained not only in core skills, but also in leadership. The Women in Leadership Development Programme was launched to assist women at Barloworld Equipment to excel in self-mastery and to develop leadership skills and qualities that enable them to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

She states that a certified Caterpillar technician is paid “far better than a regular technician or mechanic”, with Barloworld Equipment’s technicians being highly sought after, owing to the scarce skills they have.

Although not a requirement, Swanepoel says, it is recommend that prospective trainees for its programmes have at least a matric certificate. “Prospective trainees need to have an aptitude for machines.”

One of Barloworld Equipment’s best apprentices is a female from Zambia, she explains, adding that this apprentice has a passion for the profession. “You always find her in a workshop, covered in oil and grease from head to toe, fixing our machines and ensuring that they operate at maximum capacity. She loves being a technician and has since been promoted to supervisor.”

According to Swanepoel, the 40/20 strategy is already bearing fruit at senior management level. “At board level, we are already near the 40% target, as four out of our 11 board members are women. About 18% of our executive managers are female, which is higher than the average of 13% across the corporate sector in South Africa.”

She points out that Barloworld Equipment is “pushing strongly” to make Barloworld Equipment a gender-diverse and women-friendly company. “We are creating a workplace environment that is conducive to enabling women to succeed and thrive in their chosen roles across all levels of our organisation.”