WPP Sets Up Africa Academy in Johannesburg

The platform is a talent development initiative enabling the network’s companies across the region access to relevant training programmes

The global communications services group has launched the WPP Africa Academy in Johannesburg. The platform is a talent development initiative enabling the network’s companies across the said region access to relevant and cost-effective training programmes for their agency people.

To deliver the effort which was created in close collaboration with its agencies in the region, the brand is partnering with the Red & Yellow School of Logic and Magic in South Africa. The curriculum offers a range of accredited skills development programmes, occupationally-directed courses, and workshops.

It is expected that nearly 600 candidates in WPP companies will be offered such training in 2016. Its commitment to Africa is longstanding. Through its agencies, the group has had a presence in the region for over 80 years and employs more than 30,000 people through its agencies and partners in the country alone.

“As in many other developing markets, African nations are facing a shortage of talent, particularly in the fields of marketing and communications. WPP is committed to supporting the development of a professional and creatively-talented workforce in this sector,” said Sir Martin Sorrell (pictured), CEO of WPP.

“Through the Academy, we will also encourage the advancement of skills and knowledge transfer in the industry as a whole. This will support the ‘transformation’ agenda of our companies and we believe greater economic benefits will flow through to the wider economies in which we are active as well.”

The WPP Africa Academy is the third education initiative globally, following earlier initiatives in China and India. In 2015, in partnership with the Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI), the group launched the ISDI WPP School of Communication in Mumbai.

The platform created India’s first professional three-year undergraduate diploma programme in communication. In 2011, WPP partnered with the Shanghai Arts and Design Academy (SADA) to establish the WPP School of Marketing and Communications in China.