Consulting engineer in empowerment move!

historically disadvantaged employees are to be offered 30% of consulting engineering firm ninham shand, through an innovative share scheme to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the firm.
changes to the composition and structure of its board plus an international quality certification are further cause for celebration by ninham shand, one of the largest consultants in southern africa.

the company has 19 offices throughout the region, employing more than 500 professional and support staff.

md arnie möhr said the progressive changes are evidence of the firm’s commitment to transformation and the ideals of equality to which it has aspired over many years.

“we are committed to empowerment and transparency.

“the employee share scheme is designed to redress possible past disadvantages and broaden our shareholder base.

“it also offers employees a say in the running of their company.

“it is to be administered by the black economic empowerment (bee) trust – controlled by three of the firm’s senior black executives.

“in terms of employee composition, management and ownership, the plan ensures the firm is representative of south africa’s rich cultural heritage.” möhr said the industry had changed dramatically, and ninham shand sought to respond to president thabo mbeki’s call for bee, which is to be achieved through the new procurement policies which measure ownership and management control or board representation.

some firms found suitable black investors to rapidly show 30% to 50% black ownership.

but ninham shand had opted for building economic empowerment through ownership around its own employees.

“i believe many in the industry will follow our lead,” möhr said.

changes at board level saw a fully representative board of six members; three were from the historically disadvantaged group.

provision has also been made to expand the board to eight through the inclusion of a further two non-executive directors.

the new board consists of: non-executive chairperson barney tsita (also executive director of the fabcos trust); md arnie möhr; and executive directors koos pretorius and wilfred machogo, based in bloemfontein, andré görgens, based in cape town, and keith simon, based in port elizabeth.

“we have been involved in a variety of projects, from major award-winning projects like the lesotho highlands water project – conceived by our founder as the oxbow scheme – and the technically challenging south african large telescope (salt) project in sutherland, to many others which have greatly improved the quality of life of ordinary people, for example by providing low-cost housing and infrastructure,” said möhr.

“international and domestic clients demand iso certification because it assures them of a consistently high standard of work, and the awarding to the firm of the prestigious new iso 9001:2000 certification, after an audit by the reputable bureau veritas quality international, is exciting,” he added.