SA Build Awards aimed at building a better tomorrow

"The awards will be saluting nominees for their excellence, promoting competitiveness and creating awareness for the industry. It is not only glitz and glamour but these awards are also attached to a Comprehensive Integrated Enterprise Development Programme (CIEDP)," Zandile Ncala, founder of the SABA, explains.

"The awards process will provide an opportunity to conduct a gap analysis and CIEDP will provide the customised intervention. Also attached to the awards is 'Siyavuselela', which represents social programmes, launched in 2013 in Durban. It means the revival of schools, tertiary institutions, hospitals, churches and townships."

Value for money

The nominated companies will appreciate value for money because the sponsorship will be two-fold - 50% will cover the awards and the other half social programmes. The companies will be able to claim the BEE scorecard points for enterprise development, corporate social investment, procurement, youth and women development. The companies will not just enjoy publicity but also participate in social activities.

The awards will also have positive spin-offs in terms of promoting tourism, socio-economic impact and social cohesion.

"The buzzword of radical transformation within the industry could not have a more opportune time than now. The challenges of implementing empowerment of the contractors through the secondary procurement strategies that are available within the industry for emerging contractors will also be something of the past because there will be a structured contractor development programme for the industry called CIEDP. The capacity, skills, finance and coordination centralised will bear maximum value for all.

Two-year investment

All industry role players and related fields will invest once over a two year period since the awards will take place biennially. The first year being the nominees announcement for provinces, and in the second year the finalists will be presented with an award.

The most exciting aspect is the assessment of contractors on both historic projects completed and on live projects; on job training and development of contractors in totality. The real construction projects are long-term, hence the development has a multi-year approach.