The Bolt and Engineering Distributors (B.E.D.) Group is extremely pleased to congratulate a number of its female employees around the country during August – which is women’s month in South Africa – as they celebrate various long-service milestones, ranging from 15 years with the company right up to 25 years.
B.E.D. CEO Mike Giltrow enthuses: “We are so proud to be able to celebrate with these wonderful women, who have achieved long service awards. They are an example to the entire company of their dedication and commitment to our ‘100/0’ ethos, namely giving 100 percent dedication to their work with zero excuses. In what has traditionally been regarded as a male-dominated industry, these ladies have proven that the hard work and dedication of women is just as welcome as that of the men!”
Ula Ellof, a Buyer at the Rustenburg branch, is celebrating working for the B.E.D. Group for 25 years. She explains: “The training within the B.E.D. Group is excellent and this, together with the experience I’ve built on my own, has enabled me to hold my own with all my customers – with whom, over time, I have built multiple long-standing relationships. While it is true that we work in a largely male-dominated industry, I feel thoroughly appreciated by the company and in turn, I appreciate that this welcoming attitude comes from the top management downwards, and so moves into the company’s culture itself.”
Yvone Naude, who has been with the B.E.D. Group for 15 years, endorses Ellof’s words with regards to B.E.D. management’s warm and caring support. A Receiving Clerk at Wadeville Stores in the Gauteng branch, she adds: “I thoroughly appreciate the respect I receive from my line manager and all the other management at my branch, right up to the CEO, Mike Giltrow. They are always cheerful and greet us in the mornings and I feel that my branch colleagues are like a family.”
Nolleen King has proudly been working for the company for 20 years and is a Group Codes Creator at the Klerksdorp branch. She clarifies: “While it is true that working in a so-called ‘man’s world’ has brought its challenges, my customers know that I am extremely knowledgeable, as well as hard-working. My advice to younger women who want to build a long-service career for themselves within the B.E.D. Group is to work hard, make sure you are capable, and work constantly on improving your skills and your knowledge within the workplace. Keep on giving that 100 percent!”
The full list of ‘long-service ladies’ is below:
25 years: Ula Ellof, Buyer, Rustenburg
21 years: Claudette de Beer, Internal Sales, Wadeville
20 years: Nolleen King, Group Codes Creator, Klerksdorp; Elmarie van der Walt, Debtors Clerk, Rustenburg; Jane Mokgwetsi, Dispatch Assistant, Klerksdorp; Lienkie Earp, Internal Sales, Klerksdorp; Carolina Bruce-Smith, Distribution Centre Manager, B.E.D. Group
18 years: Sherril Visser, Contracts Administrator, Rustenburg
17 years: Joalane (Leah) Modisadifi, Cleaner, Klerksdorp; Charmain Ellis, Creditors Clerk, Klerksdorp
15 years: Yvone Naude, Wadeville General Stores Assistant, Gauteng; Monica Bekker, Debtors Clerk, Klerksdorp; Charmaine Muller, Bearings Internal Sales, Klerksdorp
“Congratulations to all our ladies around the country for your hard work and dedication to the B.E.D. Group!” Giltrow concludes.
