Alert opens mega store in Lephalale

Steel and building-material giant Alert Steel Holdings Ltd celebrated the opening of its new mega store in Lephalale and four other cities nation wide. The launch of the upgraded stores forms part of Alert Steel and Build’s goal to be a one-stop shop for both consumer and commercial buyers.
The new store has a more comprehensive offering than before and stocks both day-to-day consumables and large-scale items. The mega store specialise in steel, timber, plumbing, hardware, paint, security products, home décor and building materials.
Alert Steel and Build CEO Peter Dodson explained the purpose behind the new mega store model saying, “The establishment of new stores forms part of Alert Steel and Build’s progressive rejuvenating plans, announced earlier this year, and is designed to give us access to a broader consumer market.”
  
Giving back to the community
As part of its business development plans, Alert Steel and Build has also established a graduate program to address the shortage of scarce and cri-tical skills in the wholesale and retail sectors. The program has been developed with the Services Sector Education and Training Authority and is set to have its first group of 26 students enrolled by the end of August 2013.
The company will then apply for 60 school leavers in the 2013/2014 pivotal grants. Employees in the program will participate in a 12 to 24 month trainee management course and Alert Steel and Build will be partnering with the Retail Relate group for all training and development requirements.  
 Dodson said he believes that the graduate program will be beneficial as it will help create a pool of skilled workers with formal tertiary qualifications in the industry.
He added that it will also promote retail as a career of choice, assist companies in meeting their strategic staffing needs and provide unemployed graduates with valuable work experience and skills to enhance their employability.