{"id":13461,"date":"2021-09-01T02:57:43","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T02:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/?post_type=customers&p=13461"},"modified":"2025-12-03T21:18:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T21:18:09","slug":"silica","status":"publish","type":"customers","link":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/case-studies\/silica\/","title":{"rendered":"Silica Boosts Employee Skills and Retention with Accessible Online Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Boosts Employee Skills and Retention with Accessible Online Training<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From humble beginnings more than two decades ago, Silica<\/a> has grown to become one of South Africa\u2019s leading business process outsourcing and technology companies. It uses specialist skills and innovative solutions to help wealth and investment managers across Sub-Saharan Africa, grow their businesses through easier investment accessibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While its employee satisfaction and retention were already high, Silica sought to develop its training and skills program further \u2014 helping it reset the standard for employee learning and career development in South Africa and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenge: Giving people the right skills today for the jobs of tomorrow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With strict South African qualification frameworks to abide by \u2014 compounded by the company\u2019s progressive ethos towards learning \u2014 employee development was already well established at Silica through its Digital Learning Academy. But ever diligent to push its boundaries, the company wanted to shift the focus of its employee development away from academic qualifications to skills-based competencies more relevant to the modern workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sue and her L&D team needed a web-based solution that would help improve training adoption across the business in a cost-effective way. And most importantly, deliver a wide range of high-quality courses that would give employees greater opportunities to advance their careers, build skill sets, and open doors to future job roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solution: A proven learning platform that puts employees in control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After evaluating other top online learning solutions, Sue and her team selected Udemy Business. \u201cWe chose Udemy Business because it gives us access to a wide range of quality courses \u2014 meaning no matter what skills people want to develop, there\u2019s something for everyone,\u201d says Sue. \u201cWe found it much easier to use than other online learning solutions and far more cost-effective, close to 20% savings annually<\/strong><\/em>, than what we had before.“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a platform that\u2019s accessible 24\/7 and even available on mobile, Silica\u2019s employees now have the power to design their training schedules around their busy lives. And because the platform offers a vast catalog of technical and soft skills courseware, people now find it easier to upskill beyond the scope of their current job requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, as automation plays an increasingly important role in Silica\u2019s technology offering to its clients, the need for developer, cloud engineering, and business analyst skills across the business is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. By offering existing employees the opportunity to upskill in these specific areas, the company now offers greater opportunities for growth, making it easier for people to advance their careers and achieve more senior roles. And they are.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Silica<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"templates\/full-width.php","resource_type":[7],"class_list":["post-13461","customers","type-customers","status-publish","hentry","resource_type-case-study","post","without-featured-image"],"acf":{"customer_description":"Silica is the leading Business Process Outsourcing and Technology Company helping Wealth & Investment Managers grow their businesses by making investments more accessible. Silica specialises in the provision of investment product and shareholder administration services solutions to Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.","case_study_pdf":"https:\/\/info.udemy.com\/rs\/273-CKQ-053\/images\/UB_Case_Study_Silica_20210827.pdf","key_results":false,"archive_thumbnail":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/silica-resource-thumbnail-596x348-1.png.webp","customer_logo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Silica_Logo_600.jpg.webp","customer_quote":true,"has_video":false,"quote_image":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Sue_McLaggan_Silica_821.png.webp","quote_text":"Udemy Business has driven accountability across the business. I now share detailed metrics with senior leadership \u2014 such as adoption and completion rates. We leverage this data within the overall company performance metrics. Our L&D program is an integral part of Silica\u2019s overall strategy.","quote_name":"Sue McLaggan","quote_title":"Learning & Development Lead","choose_resource_hubs":["default","smb"],"publish_to_selected_resource_hubs":["yes"],"resource_topics":["integrated_learning","on_demand_learning","learning_insights"],"company_logo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Silica_Logo_600.jpg.webp","show_customer_spotlight":false,"main_heading":"Silica Boosts Employee Skills and Retention with Accessible Online Training","case_study_details_paragraph":"

From humble beginnings more than two decades ago, Silica, has grown to become one of South Africa\u2019s leading business process outsourcing and technology companies. It uses specialist skills and innovative solutions to help wealth and investment managers across Sub-Saharan Africa, grow their businesses through easier investment accessibility.<\/p>\n

While its employee satisfaction and retention were already high, Silica sought to develop its training and skills program further \u2014 helping it reset the standard for employee learning and career development in South Africa and beyond.<\/p>\n","industry_details_group":{"include_industry_details":true,"industry_details":"Financial Services"},"company_hq_details_group":{"include_company_hq_details":true,"company_hq_details":"Sandton, South Africa"},"number_of_employees_details_group":{"include_number_of_employees_details":true,"number_of_employees_details":"540+"},"office_locations_details_group":{"include_office_locations_details":true,"office_locations_details":"Across Southern Africa and expanding into Europe"},"statistics_repeater":[{"number_or_icon":"number","statistic_number":"74%","statistic_icon":false,"statistic_text":"Employees actively utilizing Udemy"},{"number_or_icon":"number","statistic_number":"20%","statistic_icon":false,"statistic_text":"Reduction in L&D cost annually"}],"tabs_group":{"include_challenge_tab":true,"challenge_tab_include_quote":true,"challenge_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"We had strict criteria for an online learning platform, and our expectations were extremely high. Udemy Business easily delivered, and we\u2019re continually surprised at the breadth of courses offered.","tab_quote_author_name":"Sue McLaggan ","tab_quote_author_title":"Learning & Development Lead","tab_quote_author_photo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Sue_McLaggan_Silica_821.png.webp"},"challenge_tab_heading":"Giving people the right skills today for the jobs of tomorrow","challenge_tab_text":"

With strict South African qualification frameworks to abide by \u2014 compounded by the company\u2019s progressive ethos towards learning \u2014 employee development was already well established at Silica through its Digital Learning Academy. But ever diligent to push its boundaries, the company wanted to shift the focus of its employee development away from academic qualifications to skills-based competencies more relevant to the modern workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Silica already had a L&D program in place, I was keen to boost employee engagement,\u201d says Sue McLaggan, Learning & Development Lead at Silica \u201cThis meant taking a different approach. So, rather than department managers leading our training programs, I sought a proven online learning solution that could empower our people to take personal development into their own hands.<\/p>\n

This desire to move away from a hierarchical training structure also supported one of the company\u2019s key values \u2014 to be curious \u2014 giving employees the confidence to undertake online learning even if they felt they didn\u2019t have the time during work hours.<\/p>\n

Sue and her L&D team needed a web-based solution that would help improve training adoption across the business in a cost-effective way. And most importantly, deliver a wide range of high-quality courses that would give employees greater opportunities to advance their careers, build skill sets, and open doors to future job roles.<\/p>\n","include_solution_tab":true,"solution_tab_include_quote":true,"solution_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"Udemy Business has driven accountability across the business. I can now share detailed metrics with senior leadership \u2014 such as adoption and completion rates. We also leverage this data within the overall company performance metrics, meaning our L&D program is now an integral part of the company\u2019s overall strategy. \r\n","tab_quote_author_name":"Sue McLaggan","tab_quote_author_title":"Learning & Development Lead","tab_quote_author_photo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Sue_McLaggan_Silica_821.png.webp"},"solution_tab_heading":"A proven learning platform that puts employees in control","solution_tab_text":"

After evaluating other top online learning solutions, Sue and her team selected Udemy Business. \u201cWe chose Udemy Business because it gives us access to a wide range of quality courses \u2014 meaning no matter what skills people want to develop, there\u2019s something for everyone,\u201d says Sue. \u201cWe found it much easier to use than other online learning solutions and far more cost-effective, close to 20% savings annually, than what we had before.<\/p>\n

Giving people the right skills for tomorrow\u2019s workforce<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a platform that\u2019s accessible 24\/7 and even available on mobile, Silica\u2019s employees now have the power to design their training schedules around their busy lives. And because the platform offers a vast catalog of technical and soft skills courseware, people now find it easier to upskill beyond the scope of their current job requirements.<\/p>\n

For example, as automation plays an increasingly important role in Silica\u2019s technology offering to its clients, the need for developer, cloud engineering, and business analyst skills across the business is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. By offering existing employees the opportunity to upskill in these specific areas, the company now offers greater opportunities for growth, making it easier for people to advance their careers and achieve more senior roles. And they are.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur entire workforce is now taking a more proactive approach to learning, and Udemy Business has played a significant role in this,\u201d says Sue. \u201cThe results have been fantastic. Thanks to greater upskilling opportunities, we now have several people in senior positions across the company who may not have had those opportunities through our old program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enhanced L&D reporting to help drive regular improvements<\/strong><\/p>\n

Without the right data, it can be difficult to measure whether learning and development initiatives are working and to what extent teams are taking advantage of the program. With the advanced reporting capabilities in Udemy Business, Sue and her team now have access to deep insights into their training program performance, such as top course completions and time spent per power user, helping them make regular improvements based on hard data.<\/p>\n

\u201cUdemy Business has driven accountability across the business,\u201d says Sue. \u201cI can now share detailed metrics with senior leadership \u2014 such as adoption and completion rates. We also leverage this data within the overall company performance metrics, meaning our L&D program is now an integral part of the company\u2019s overall strategy<\/p>\n","include_results_tab":true,"results_tab_include_quote":true,"results_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"Our entire workforce is now taking a more proactive approach to learning, and Udemy Business has played a significant role in this. The results have been fantastic. Thanks to greater upskilling opportunities, we now have several people in senior positions across the company who may not have had those opportunities through our old program.","tab_quote_author_name":"Sue McLaggan","tab_quote_author_title":"Learning & Development Lead","tab_quote_author_photo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Sue_McLaggan_Silica_821.png.webp"},"results_tab_heading":"An upskilled workforce and better career progression","results_tab_text":"

With close to 80% of the workforce active learners in Udemy Business, more Silica employees are reaping the benefit of enhanced skills-based training than ever before. By offering flexible courses that can be completed both in and outside work \u2014 rather than relying on their line managers to assign them training \u2014 employees now have far easier access to courses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we give our people time during the work week to complete necessary courses, we\u2019ve found that many opt to study in their free time,\u201d says Sue. \u201cIt\u2019s a true testament that our employees recognize the benefits upskilling can have on their careers, which motivates them to log on.\u201d<\/p>\n

An unanticipated outcome for Sue and Silica leadership is the jump in employee retention because of the new learning and development platform. \u201cWe now see Udemy Business as an extension of our workforce,\u201d says Sue. \u201cEven though our people are now better skilled, they also appreciate the investment we make in their development, and are staying with us longer.<\/p>\n","include_looking_forward_tab":true,"looking_forward_tab_include_quote":false,"looking_forward_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"","tab_quote_author_name":"","tab_quote_author_title":"","tab_quote_author_photo":false},"looking_forward_tab_heading":"Expand learning and build on success","looking_forward_tab_text":"

\u201cWe had strict criteria for an online learning platform, and our expectations were extremely high,\u201d says Sue. \u201cUdemy Business easily delivered, and we\u2019re continually surprised at the breadth of courses offered.\u201d Looking to the future, Sue and the L&D team plan to expand their learning program, offering Udemy licenses to all new hires and more. This includes the company\u2019s regular intern intake, who can now expect not only a unique work experience with one of South Africa\u2019s most progressive firms but also a suite of ondemand training courses to help develop their transferrable skills \u2014 helping prepare them for whatever the future holds.<\/p>\n"},"main_page_quote_group":{"main_page_quote_text":"We see Udemy Business as an extension of our workforce. 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