GMH/CPP Consulting Civil Engineers, as a dedicated member of the South African business community, has a responsibility of complying with BEE requirements. We are therefore seriously of the intention to achieve the guidelines as stipulated for 2009 and 2014. To this end we have developed a BEE policy, which is approved by the directors, in order to achieve particular set goals. It is our strategic intention to achieve the following by the said due dates:
GMH/CPP commits itself to allocating at least 21% and 30% shareholding by 2009 and 2014 respectively, to HDI directors. It is the intention to involve professionally qualified HDI candidates who will be 100% involved in the owning and management of the company.
Despite the difficulty in recruiting HDI staff in the civil engineering industry, it is our stated policy to involve both male and female black directors. This policy requires that every third director be black, and that at least one female HDI director be appointed for every two male counterparts. This is in line with the scorecard requirements for 2009.
Over and above the policy requirements set out above in respect of ownership and management, our goal is to achieve an HDI staffing of at least 60%, of which 50% should be female. We intend achieving this by adhering to the following principles:
- GMH/CPP Consulting Engineers will not in any way discriminate between any racial, religious or cultural group, nor have any preference for any gender.
- It is the policy of this practice to endeavour to fill each vacancy, as well as every new position with a member of the HDI community.
- The HDI candidate has to have the qualification and experience commensurate with the specific position.
- Should a candidate not comply in all respects to the requirements, it should be investigated whether it is feasible to train the incumbent, whether this is done in-house or elsewhere, for the candidate to become qualified for the specific post.
- Only if the above criteria cannot be met, will a non-HDI candidate be considered.
- The firm will at all times seek to exercise its social responsibility, and will allocate a suitable amount of funding towards the education of HDI students, whether this is for full time study or learnerships.
We undertake by 2009 to spend 3% of our payroll costs on skills development through accredited training. Three quarters of this amount to be allocated to black staff. Also, we allocate at least 2% of our staff members to learnerships, all of which to be black.
The policy is as follows:
- Only staff members qualified for a specific post will be employed in such a position, unless it is decided that an existing or new staff member can be trained for a specific post.
- GMH/CPP will at all times train in-house its personnel by informal methods and generally expose staff to an environment that will generate the transfer of skills
- The firm funds the full time study of an HDI civil engineering student, and undertakes to employ him upon completion of his studies. When one student qualifies, another HDI student will be funded. The funding is subject to acceptable progress of the particular student at university.
- The firm at present carries the cost of the studies of three HDI students at Technicon, and will at all times fund at least two students at Technicon.
- Staff members are invited to identify learnerships, conferences and courses to improve themselves, and the firm will assist with these efforts financially. The available funding will be allocated in the best interest of the firm.
- GMH/CPP undertakes to in a limited way appoint junior HDI staff in a position where they will be the understudy for the formal position of employment in order to put practical implementation of fast track empowerment.
- The firm will also identify staff members to attend courses if it is deemed that such staff members will benefit from attending such courses.
GMH/CPP Consulting Engineers will allocate at least 40% of monies on the procurement of services and goods from subcontractors and suppliers, to BEE companies. This is to be achieved by following the principles set out below:
- GMH/CPP Consulting Engineers is committed to appoint BEE/SME suppliers/subcontractors for all work relating to topographical survey, geotechnical work, soil testing, as well as all general purchases.
- Non BEE/SME suppliers/subcontractors will only be used should a suitable BEE/SME supplier/subcontractor not readily be found.
- A percentage preference will be given to BEE/SME suppliers/subcontractors, which percentage increases pro rata the percentage HDI ownership of the BEE/SME supplier increases. The percentage preference is 10% for purchases of less than R10 000, 8% for purchases of over R10 000 and up to R20 000, 6% for purchases of over R20 000 and up to R30 000, 4% for purchases of over R30 000 and up to R40 000, and 2% for purchases of over R40 000.
- GMH/CPP will establish to the best of its ability the HDI ownership of regular suppliers and subcontractors and will develop a database of such data.
- A BEE/SME supplier/subcontractor who provides substandard work/products will be removed from the list.
- The auditors of GMH/CPP have been instructed to calculate the percentage of budget spent on BEE/SME suppliers/subcontractors, in order for us to report the percentage in future financial years.
It is the intention of GMH/CPP Consulting Engineers to spend 1% of post tax profits on education, community programmes, health, training and conservation. Our current policy of leaving something behind in the communities is therefore formalised into a measurable parameter. We have set up systems in our company to record and measure our activities in this regard.
As a Professional Civil Engineering consulting practice we accept our responsibility for social development. We have identified two primary areas in which our firm can be effective. These are:
- Focus on the provision of infrastructure and township services
- Planning of projects to maximise the job creation potential thereof, this specifically for the community in which this work is being carried out
We believe in a policy of transparency through our meetings with the community involved, and actively pursue the co-operation of local bodies with the Civic Organisation, and local officials of Cosatu, Taxi Association, Builders Forum and the like.
We have already successfully completed projects directly related to both the above priorities. These projects vary from sewerage pipe lines, arterial roads, urban roads, stormwater etc. These projects which are located in Soweto, Midrand, Ivory Park and Tembisa were executed as community based projects which created work for local residents. In addition a number of these projects provided formal training for the people involved.
As further proof of our commitment towards the successful development of South Africa we were granted membership of the Proudly South African campaign in 2002 and therefore proudly project and protect that image.
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