Bridge named as a Top Ten Employer in Africa

The annual Careers in Africa Employer of Choice Study aims to shape the conversation about what makes a great employer in Africa and positively change the work experience for employees. As such, Bridge is delighted to have entered the list for the first time, going straight into the top ten at 9th place. Bridge is the only social enterprise to make the list and the only education provider identified; a reflection of the transformational education opportunities being delivered at scale in some of the most marginalised communities in Africa. The World Bank, a Bridge investor, retains its position at number one for another consecutive year.

More than 10,000 African professionals were surveyed to identify the best employers in Africa and asked what contributes to a great employee experience. The core employer attractiveness driver identified by the study was the ability for employees to feel that they are making and impact with another driver being identified as the development of skills.

“I feel proud to be part of a world-class organisation that is changing the face of education globally. Teaching at Bridge comes with a lot of opportunities and a strong sense of support and professional development.” Bridge Teacher, Nigeria.

Delivering impact through improved learning outcomes for children lies at the heart of the Bridge model; evidenced over multiple years and countries, it will no doubt be an important contributor to Bridge’s selection as an impactful place to work. In Kenya, for the third year running, Bridge pupils outperformed their peers, in 2017 by 10 percentage points. In Uganda 100% of Bridge pupils passed the end of primary school exam with over 93% of pupils scored in Division one or two compared to 56% nationally. In Liberia, Bridge Partnership Schools for Liberia pupils learned twice as much as their peers in neighbouring government schools. Knowing that you are making a difference to families, communities and countries is a significant motivator for those who work at Bridge, something supported by the study which agrees that “Bridge’s purpose centric model is a natural fit for core employer attractiveness.”

In addition with a focus on developing and empowering teachers, Bridge is a natural choice for those who seek professional development and feel empowered by delivering impressive results. Many teachers across Africa are left unsupported, with poor materials, overcrowded classrooms and little professional development, all of which contributes to high teacher absenteeism and poor learning gains. In contrast, teachers employed by Bridge benefit from ongoing training; a clear support system and teacher guides that enable teachers to focus on their pupils without the administrative burden that many feel overwhelmed by.

“Being a Bridge teacher makes me feel proud and dedicated to my profession. I always wanted to be the best and make my pupils happy. If you teach at Bridge, you will definitely feel that enthusiasm.” David Okombo Bridge Teacher, Kenya

The study supports what those at Bridge have felt for sometime, working towards a mission that aims to ensure every child has access to a life changing education is both motivating and fulfilling. As Bridge grows its team over the years to come, we hope that the positive sense of employee engagement and commitment will also continue to grow.

The Careers in Africa Employer of Choice study was conducted by Willis Towers Watson in collaboration Global Careers Company.