Ardagh’s Centre of Excellence promises to empower South Africans with IT knowledge and training

31 May 2023 --- Ardagh Group is establishing a global Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Cape Town, South Africa, which will provide IT services to its businesses across Europe, the Americas and Africa. With funding from the City of Cape Town, Ardagh sees the training as a pioneering opportunity to make a positive difference by developing skills and growing jobs for South African youth in the increasingly important field of technology.

The company will also work with EXL, a data analytics and digital operations company, and CapaCiti as project implementation partners. In addition to building the CoE, Ardagh will work alongside several local charities around Cape Town.

“With social development at the core of our sustainability strategy, our CoE in Africa will help to empower local youth as well as underpinning Ardagh’s future in, and commitment to, the region,” remarks Paul Coulson, chairman at Ardagh Group.

“We recognize the critical role education and access to education play in ensuring equal opportunities and building successful communities. This initiative aligns closely with Ardagh’s program to promote STEM education among our communities.”

Ardagh shares that its educational program covers more than 400 schools across Europe and the Americas, with plans to expand to Brazil and Africa next year. “We are proud to employ more than 21,000 skilled people across our global network,” says Coulson.

The Ardagh CoE will be based in Cape Town, South Africa.Social investment
The glass and metal packaging supplier’s 2022 acquisition of Consol Glass, now known as Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa, has been followed by further investment to meet the growing demand for sustainable glass packaging in South Africa, the company details. 

Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa operates seven production facilities in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia, manufacturing a range of glass packaging for the F&B and pharmaceutical industries. With the investment to build a CoE, the company aims to generate a positive social impact in the region.

“Investments like these solidify Cape Town as a preferred destination for investment on the African continent,” says Alderman Vos, mayoral committee member for economic growth at the City of Cape Town.

“The city aims to make it easier for businesses to start, invest and expand in Cape Town. The plan is to be the easiest place to do business in South Africa and Africa overall. This will positively influence our youth by equipping them with key training, education and transferable skills to enable them to thrive in their future careers.”

Coulson adds that the city is the “perfect home” for the CoE due to its technology skills and established infrastructure.

Africa in the spotlight
In March, Nesta’s social enterprise Challenge Works delivered the Afri-Plastics Challenge awarding a total of £4.1 million (US$5 million) funded by the Canadian government to scale innovations aimed at tackling plastic waste and minimizing ocean-bound plastic. 

Meanwhile, Huhtamaki teamed up with international charity WasteAid for a two-year program to provide training and support to South African waste collectors known as “Wastepreneurs,” helping to develop their skills and capacity. 

“The Wastepreneur Challenge is an initiative designed by WasteAid and supported by Huhtamaki to support those on the first rung of the waste management value chain,” Michelle Wilson, director of programs at WasteAid, told PackagingInsights.

Edited by Radhika Sikaria

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