WorleyParsons links up with trio of SMEs

Acknowledging that the growth of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is integral to the development and transformation of SA, WorleyParsons RSA’s enterprise supplier development (ESD) initiative seeks to partner with independent, sustainable, small-scale blackowned businesses to jointly deliver engineering services in the minerals and metals, hydrocarbons, power, chemicals and infrastructure sectors.

Gladwin Mfolo, executive manager of transformation at WorleyParsons RSA, says the initiative aims to be a mutually beneficial collaboration between the company and sustainable, empowered SMEs.

“The primary aim of the ESD initiative is to encourage skills transfer between WorleyParsons RSA and their ESD partners, and to create more opportunities for their partner companies. While WorleyParsons RSA is able to access specialised services from these businesses and vice versa, the SMEs benefit from increased exposure, a larger operating platform, and access to worldclass delivery systems.”

Three companies that WorleyParsons RSA has partnered with as part of the initiative are UNN Surveys, MVD Kalahari and Blacc Engineering Services, all accomplished in their own right, and they view the partnership as a chance to expand their businesses.

UNN Surveys is a 100% black women-owned enterprise that specialises in land development, land management and engineering consulting. It offers comprehensive solutions in the infrastructure and development sectors. MD of UNN Surveys, Unathi Ntshuntshe, says the ESD initiative has afforded her company the opportunity to gain access to a wider customer base for their specialised services.

MVD Kalahari is a 52% blackowned enterprise established in 1959. It provides civil and structural engineering services to various public and private clients in the central SA region, but associate Cascar Setlhoke feels there is much to be gained from partnering with a global company such as WorleyParsons RSA.

“It will allow us to enter the mining space, particularly in the Northern Cape, where we already have a presence and track record of delivering successful projects in the public sector,” says Setlhoke.

Blacc Engineering Services, one of the newest participants in the programme, is a 100% black-owned business services entity specialising in engineering consulting, impact and infrastructure investments and facilities management in the mining, water, petrochemicals and public sector.

MD Mushir Khan says that Blacc strongly believes in the values of “ubuntu” and the idea of growing together.

Blacc’s philosophy aligns with WorleyParsons RSA’s ESD initiative and focuses on skills transfer and joint development.

“We have identified that there is a shortage of entrepreneurs in SA so we want to assist people in developing and growing these skills for the benefit of future generations,” says Khan.

“Although we are still in the initial stages of the ESD roll-out, we believe that the engineering sector and its associated infrastructure in SA has much to gain from this initiative,” says WorleyParsons RSA’s Mfolo.

“As the programme matures, we expect to see more and more joint delivery of services while exposing our partner SMEs to world-class delivery systems and transferring skills and capabilities to help the industry as a whole grow,” he adds.