Bridge named as a Top Ten Employer in Africa for those who ‘want to make a real difference to society’
The annual Careers in Africa Employer of Choice Study aims to shape the conversation about what makes a great employer in Africa and ‘to shed light on which employers are attracting talent across Africa and why.’
Bridge is delighted to have come in eighth among those employees who choose their organisation based on ‘their ability to make a real difference to society’. Alongside being listed as one of the top twenty employers on the Continent. Bridge prides itself on its commitment to its mission. All Bridge employees are motivated by the desire to provide life-changing education for every child and make the world a safer and more prosperous place. Supporting the delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 is the purpose that every single employee in the organisation is driven by.
“Interacting with the community humbled me and my interpersonal skills kept improving. My confidence improved and I enjoyed speaking to parents and community leaders about Bridge.”
— Vicky Lajara, leadership and development supervisor; Bridge Schools – Uganda
Now in its 4th year, the annual survey reveals the key drivers that matter most to African talent across the Continent and around the world, as well as who they believe are the Continent’s top employers.
The study considered 1,100 organisations across the Continent. Bridge is the only social enterprise to make the top twenty 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.
| Ranking | Company | Region | Main reason for choice |
| 1 | Nigeria LNG | West | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 2 | MTN | East, Francophone, Southern, West | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 3 | African Development Bank | East, West, Southern, West | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 4 | IOM | East | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 5 | Vivo Energy | East, Francophone, Southern, West | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 6 | Development Bank of Southern Africa | Southern | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 7 | Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc. | West | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 8 | Ecobank | East, Francophone, Southern, West | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 9 | Amref Health Africa | East | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 10 | Pecten | West | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 11 | Camrose Resources (ENRC) | Francophone | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 12 | Coca Cola Beverages Africa | East, Southern | Reputation of organisation as an innovative and forward-thinking company |
| 13 | Sasol | Southern | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 14 | Office National des Transports | Francophone | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 15 | Sahara Group | West | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 16 | Ethiopian Airlines | East | Reputation of organisation as an innovative and forward-thinking company |
| 17 | Safaricom | East | Reputation of organisation as an innovative and forward-thinking company |
| 18 | Standard Group | East, Southern, West | The opportunity for challenging work |
| 19 | Bridge International Academies | East, West | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
| 20 | International Livestock Research Institute | East | The ability for me to make a real difference to society through the organisation |
More than 30,000 African professionals were surveyed to identify the best employers in Africa and asked what contributes to a great employee experience. Factors such as culture, opportunity to make a societal impact and development were among the factors considered.
“I’m really enjoying my job. It’s important to me that when pupils leave Bridge they go on to do really well and make their community proud.”
— Ngozi Ofodire, teacher, Bridge – Nigeria
Delivering impact through improved learning outcomes for children lies at the heart of Bridge’s work and will no doubt be an important contributor to Bridge’s selection as an impactful place to work. In Nigeria, a DFID study showed groundbreaking equity of learning in Bridge schools while children excelled in the national common entrance exam. In Kenya, for the fourth year running, Bridge pupils outperformed their peers, in 2017 by 12 percentage points. In Uganda, Bridge pupils excelled in the Primary Leaving Examinations for the second consecutive year, overturning a national trend which see boys outperforming girls. Students in the Liberian Education Advancement Programme 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 this study—where making a societal difference was a core motivation for employees.
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 seeing children flourish under their tutelage and care.
Many teachers across Africa are left unsupported, with poor materials, overcrowded classrooms, and little professional development—which contributes to high teacher absenteeism and poor learning gains. In contrast, teachers in Bridge run or supported schools benefit from ongoing training, a clear support system and materials and resources that enable them to excel. It’s unsurprising that an organisation which supports teachers to succeed is rated so highly by them.
“I feel happy to know that my children are better every day. This is professional growth.”
— Namuyingo Jamilah, teacher, Bridge Schools – Uganda
The study’s findings support what those at Bridge have felt for some time, 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 the Global Careers Company in conjunction with the African Business Magazine.
