Training in the organisation is not seen as a once-off process, but rather as a community of learning that is an on-going and integral part of an employee's career development, from the most junior all the way up to the most senior executives. General staff training and development is available at every level within the Company by using a competency-based approach, with a development needs analysis employed during the annual staff dialogues used inside the Company.

Siemens makes available R1-million per year in bursaries for students studying engineering at universities and technikons, of which more than 80% is awarded to students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Skills development expenditure at Siemens has averaged over 8% of payroll over the past three years with a combination of management learning, business administration and technical training programmes. The Company's Leadership Development Programme is designed to develop the required capabilities in our future leaders to ensure our competitiveness in a complex and dynamic business environment.

To further alleviate the telecommunications skills shortage in the entire sub-Saharan region, Siemens Southern Africa has established the Siemens Information and Communication Institute in Pretoria to provide theoretical and practical training using learning methods such as e-learning. Joint training activities with customers such as Telkom and government bodies as well as public/private partnerships like the Albert Luthuli Central Hospital are also helping to solve this critical skills shortage.

Siemens Business Services is also working to improve skills within the IT industry, with the first Systems Support IT Learnership started in September 2003 with 100 learners that combine on-the-job training with theoretical knowledge, with Siemens Business Services as the lead employer.  

At Siemens Park in Midrand, 'Sitrain' coordinates training for customers of the Energy and Industry group. The South African Qualifications Authority accredited certification from the courses is recognised worldwide, with courses not just limited to Siemens technology but extend to training for industry standard products such as Profibus. Sitrain also recruits approximately 50 students each year who have been identified as having significant future potential in their respective SADC countries to receive complimentary training in Siemens technology, leading to product qualifications such as Certified PLC Engineer.

Siemens is also currently committed to engagement with the forthcoming ICT Charter. From a skills development perspective the requirements range from compliance with skills development legislation to the registration of learnerships.