Ford shows-and-tells

“At Ford we’re committed to investing in the future of young people in South Africa,” says Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa president and CEO, Jeff Nemeth. But, as the saying goes, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” and the annual Ford Career Day, aimed at Grade 11 and 12 learners, proved to be a real treat.

“The aim of the Career Day is to help make the tertiary education application process easier for South African learners by giving them valuable insights into the numerous opportunities available to them in the motor industry,” explains Nemeth.

This year’s instalment saw approximately 75 students – from various schools in Alexandra, Johannesburg, and Entokozweni, Mamelodi, as well as employees’ children – spending the day at the company’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria.

Here the learners were presented with practical information on the different career paths offered within the automotive industry, encompassing a diverse range of specialist fields. These included marketing, finance, human resources, purchasing, customer services, product development and manufacturing.

Ford’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) instructors were also on hand to offer valuable advice to the young learners as they prepare to take to the roads in the future. Nemeth explains: “The driving programmes generally available in South Africa tend to have a performance bias. They are designed to promote the performance of a specific vehicle brand, or are marketed as a leisure or lifestyle activity.”

The DSFL programme is, however, applicable to all South African drivers, no matter their age or the type of vehicle they drive. It includes the benefits of safety, fuel efficiency and environmentally conscious driving – demonstrating Ford’s commitment to the future of these upcoming drivers.

“The Career Day programme is evidence of our aim to invest in the development of skills both on the roads and in the office,” Nemeth concludes.