Business Enquirer Issue 111 | TSEBO | March'23

AN EMPOWERING EMPLOYER TSEBO

AN EMPOWERING EMPLOYER

Providing integrated workplace management solutions to a range of industries across Africa, Tsebo recognises that staff are critical to business success.

Whilst it provides services relating to catering, cleaning, hygiene and energy, it also has a Remote Camps arm which trades under the All Terrain Services brand. Its purpose is to create a home away from home for the construction and resources industries.

Tsebo International CEO, Eddie Ueckermann, discussed with Business Enquirer the business’ path to becoming an invaluable partner and growing its services across Africa.

Circular Empowerment

Since the early 1970s, Tsebo has provided integrated workplace management solutions to industries such as Oil and Gas, Mining, Manufacturing, Banking, Health Care and Hospitality.

With so many competencies offered to so many industries across Africa, Eddie highlights a key to success is having robust systems and measurements.

“To ensure we offer the same high standard of service wherever we work, we ensure the same information is shared with clients across the board and use a standardised operating model. We also focus on providing the best training in customer service to our staff,” explained Eddie.

Via its services, Tsebo supports its clients in staff retention, by making staff feel safe, happy and valued.

“We offer an account management app to create fantastic experiences on a workplace camp,” said Eddie, “it shares hospitality information, any activities taking place and has a portal so that staff can give feedback on any issues. In turn, this helps staff to feel at home”.

And, according to research by Warwick University, happy staff are 12% more productive in their jobs.

“Data feedback is very important for our own business as well as our clients. We run around 2000 staff surveys a year, with the results coming directly to me,” shared Eddie, “we are also a chosen partner due to our strong ABAC policies and corporate governance”.

Recognised as a 2023 Top Employer in South Africa, Tsebo is ultimately focussed on employee retention - its own and that of its customers.

Eddie Ueckermann Chief Executive Officer Tsebo International

TSEBO PROJECT DIRECTED BY: GARY SMITH ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: LAURA WATLING

Tsebo integrates the value it creates for its clients into its own business too, with Eddie noting that Tsebo has a low churn of employees with many staying for a long time.

“We are keen to identify and grow talent, mentoring colleagues into senior roles,” said Eddie.

Tsebo is driving localisation, with an aim of 95% local employment.

“There is a breadth of talent in Africa, along with those in the local community understanding the nuances of the location,” explained Eddie, “by combining international standards with local knowledge, we can provide the best service to our clients, as well as developing the local economy”.

The facilities provider trains 6-7000 staff members per year, and has a robust training programme of over 70 modules depending on the role.

In addition, vendors and suppliers to Tsebo also receive training, ensuring a superior, integrated service.

“We’re really proud of the e-learning programme we’ve developed, meaning that we can support colleagues, suppliers and vendors in every corner of Africa,” shared Eddie, “ultimately, staff are the first line of customer experience, so getting this right is important to our success”.

Tsebo’s approach to staff feels truly circular. Happy Tsebo employees means increased production, offering better service to clients. In turn, this creates happy client staff, and increased client productivity. It’s a win-win.

A Philanthropic Approach

Currently, Tsebo’s 33,000 staff are based across 3,500 client sites across Africa. To ensure a hands-on service, it has 32 offices throughout Africa.

“Our strategy so far has been to follow our clients, enabling them to have the same service from Tsebo no matter where they are,” Eddie explained.

2022 saw the acquisition of two new sites in Liberia and Malawi.

Eddie sees fantastic growth potential for Tsebo, with plans to expand into another three to four countries in the coming 18 months.

“For the last 30 years my career has been focussed on bettering Africa,” said Eddie, “I am passionate about Africa, its people, and ultimately making the world a better place”.

One way in which Eddie and Tsebo are doing so is by confronting energy supply, a scarce commodity in Africa - naturally, this makes running a business even more challenging.

YOUR RELIABLE CHOICE

Reliable food & Logistics is committed to offering solutions in nutrition to all customers in a cost effective manner. We go out of our way to offer the best logistics solutions to endear her to the Global community.

Our core values include innovation, client-value creation, integrity, and staff empowerment.

OUR BRANDS

Fresco Products

Virginia Green Garden

American Gourmet

Le Blanc

“We are in the process of rolling out an energy management service. It’s a sustainable solution which uses strategies such as reducing consumption during peak times,” shared Eddie, “African people are very industrious but are failed by poor infrastructure, this new service is going to help businesses to “just run””.

Tsebo works at scale, allowing it to offer cost effective services to its clients.

“We add value for our customers by finding efficiencies and saving them money,” said Eddie.

To control capture and feedback of data, Tsebo has created its own data centre. It has built a skillset around managing data centres in order to service a new group of clients, in which it sees potential for growth.

The Pride of Africa

As well as being proud of its exceptional service and staff, Tsebo and its CEO are proud of the work it does in the communities in which it operates.

Currently, Tsebo is running 46 flagship projects across Africa, creating legacies in the continent.

Once again taking a circular approach, by supporting community groups and local businesses Tsebo is creating a network of skilled, entrepreneurial and ultimately happier people.

Amongst its projects are initiatives to develop sustainable businesses in sectors such as cleaning and farming.

“In Ghana we are implementing a farming outreach programme. This is creating “farm to fork” businesses, which can ultimately become supply chain partners,” explained Eddie.

Office; 0738579572

0723096797

marketing@reliablefood.co.ke operations@reliablefood.co.ke

“Whether it’s for our colleagues, clients or communities, we are passionate about creating a safe and transparent environment which empowers people,” said Eddie. www.tsebo.com