BIGEN AFRICA conforms to the guidelines of the Construction Charter. Firmly anchored in South Africa, we regard human capital development as a pivotal part of BIGEN AFRICA’s empowerment and Socio-Economic Development Programme. This programme, which focuses on the development of internal and external stakeholders, portrays our commitment to making a significant contribution to addressing the complex task of social-economic transformation. In doing so we apply the following 7 pillars of BIGEN AFRICA’s Socio-Economic Development Programme.
Ownership and Control
The leadership of the BIGEN AFRICA Group is vested in a core of competent business people who are accountable for the risk management of our business. 33,5% of the company’s issued shares are held by historically disadvantaged individuals who actively participate in the management of the group.
BIGEN AFRICA Board 2006/2007 (PDF)
Employment Equity and Skills Development
BIGEN AFRICA places great value on the principles entrenched in the Employment Equity Act. We comply with the requirements of the Act and are currently rising to the challenges of adapting our workforce profile in terms of race, gender and disability issues. These challenges will be met through:
- The implementation of a successful employment equity programme
- Mentoring and succession planning
- Training and development
Procurement
Affirmative procurement is essential in addressing the skewed representation of previously disadvantaged and disenfranchised individuals and businesses in our economy. BIGEN AFRICA has identified three-year targets aimed at increasing the amount of discretionary spending and procurement from SMMEs, owned and managed by blacks and by women. Guidelines and requirements have been developed that will ensure a user-friendly, easy-to-implement system for affirmative procurement.
Enterprise development
BIGEN AFRICA has numerous formal working relationships with organisations owned and managed by previously disadvantaged/disenfranchised individuals. These development initiatives are aimed at increasing the levels of sustainability of developing enterprises, and at increasing the levels of black ownership in the sector.
At BIGEN AFRICA we are committed to a formal transfer of skills and expertise within those organisations. Relationships may be on a project basis, but also extend to long-term relationships and, where appropriate, could include BIGEN AFRICA making direct investments in the relevant organisation to facilitate skills transfer, capacity building, and ultimately a sustainable enterprise. Residual – Corporate Social Investment
The approach applied by BIGEN AFRICA is that of a good corporate citizen – one that is sensitive to the needs and concerns of its employees, customers, communities and society in general ... stakeholders that contribute towards our commercial success. Human capital development is the key focus of BIGEN AFRICA’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme. Implemented initiatives include:
- ABET education for its employees
- A bursary scheme
- Sponsoring partnerships for viable community projects
- Support to the People Upliftment Project (POPUP) and national CSI campaigns
The BIGEN AFRICA Group is a provider of solutions – solutions that are reinforced by our commitment to meeting the needs of our clients and communities. The continued successful provision of solutions is moulded by the development of viable and sustainable human and natural environments – all of which are supported by BIGEN AFRICA’s 7 Pillars of our Socio-Economic Development Programme.