GHC AFRICA
GHC AFRICA
Delivering Projects
On Time, Every Time PRODUCTION: Timothy Reeder
GHC has always believed that a policy of close attention to, and effective collaboration with, its clients is what has enabled it to effectively manage projects over the last quarter-century. It brings together the expertise and control necessary to actively monitor each aspect of a project to achieve optimum completion every time.
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Founded in Johannesburg 25 years ago, GHC specialises in project management and has completed high-profile instructions not only in South Africa, but across the continent. At its core, GHC seeks to complete projects that, “not only fulfil your vision for today, but inspire your vision of tomorrow.” To achieve this entails a detailed examination of each project’s funding requirements, the risks and benefits it presents, and then managing the procurement and selection of specialist services. In short, GHC tries to relieve clients of the potential distraction of servicing project aspects themselves that fall outside their direct area of expertise, allowing them to concentrate on their core business activities.
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EMPHASIS ON UNDERSTANDING It has been GHC’s recognition of the importance of building relationships - of listening to clients and drilling down deeper into their objectives to better understand and service their needs - that has helped to continually set it apart in such a crowded market. GHC isn’t a business that conducts its work from afar; rather its project managers get close to clients and take a personal approach to each and every undertaking. According to theskillsportal.co.za such competences are at the very forefront of the necessary skills required to succeed in this burgeoning business: “the attributes required to be a successful project manager include excellent interpersonal and communication skills, adept problem solving and the ability to work
well under pressure, whilst being highly adaptable and a logical thinker,” it states. A focus on building these interpersonal relationships has been central to negotiating the pressures which have been terminal to so many similar companies over GHC’s long operational lifetime, as Director, Mike Woodruff, outlines. “The last few years have been tumultuous,” he says. “We’ve been very fortunate as South Africa’s construction industry and the built environment industry has gone through a hard time and remains under pressure but we managed to pick up some nice, long-term jobs which has helped us build our reputation, knowledge base and staff skill set. “There’s a lot of project managers who like to work from afar and manage by email. That’s not our style. We get
INDUSTRY FOCUS: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
// PROJECT MANAGEMENT IS A SKILL THAT IS IN HIGH DEMAND IN SOUTH AFRICA AND GLOBALLY // involved, we get alongside our clients, we understand the business case of why they’re taking on the project and we like to think we relieve the client of responsibility of ensuring that building is built to meet their needs. We analyse the business case and we make sure that when we deliver the project, it’s something that clients actually need rather than something they want. We get very involved with clients and the evidence of that is in our repeat business – there’s a handful of clients that we’ve been working with for almost the entire existence of this company. “We like to meet people. Our clients have to trust a multi-million Rand or Billion Rand project to our people
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and they have to know our people are capable. The only way to sell that is by being in front of clients and talking to them about how you can add value.” A GROWING NEED There has been a massive shift of late towards project management in organisations. So great has been the upturn in its perceived importance that South Africa is on the brink of facing a severe shortage of skilled project managers. As business interactions, both between and within organisations, become ever more complex, the need to effectively manage available time and resources becomes vital. As such, and coupled with significant investment in infrastructure and service, the demand for project management skills in South Africa has increased significantly across a wide variety of industries. A project management team in a business tends to become vital when a company embarks on a significant initiative, which explains the need of such a wide skillset in a budding project manager. It is most commonly
associated within the information technology (IT) divisions of corporate and government organisations and in the engineering and construction industries, although it can be applied to almost any sector or business. So crucial is effective project management that it can also contribute to the overall success of a business, by ensuring that projects are successfully completed within the at times crippling constraints of time, cost and quality. Today, companies are more reliant on project managers as they look to focus on their core business so says Ian Yoell, Managing Director of Edexcel Southern Africa. “Project management is a skill that is in high demand in South Africa and globally. Project managers play a vital role in the economic growth of a developing country such as ours. International accreditations such as the BTEC diploma or certificate are designed to ensure aspiring project managers acquire the skills needed to be a successful team player in a diverse project team, both locally and internationally,”
GHC AFRICA
// WE HAVE AN UNTAINTED RECORD OF DELIVERING ON TIME, WITHIN BUDGET AND TO THE REQUIRED QUALITY // COMPREHENSIVE OFFERING GHC’s offering is designed to be applicable to as many contexts as possible, but its core services fall into four main categories: Commercial Management, Construction Management, Development Management and Project Management. An impressive completed projects portfolio includes the Sandton Sun reconfiguration, Nelson Mandela Square reconfiguration, Sandton Tower refurbishment and Accra Mall reconfiguration, to name only a few. Mike Woodruff believes that, as a result, GHC can bring its expertise to clients in any industry to superb effect. “Our speciality is retail but we do commercial projects for hospitals and
similar,” he details. “Our client base varies but we think we can apply our principles to any industry. Our added value is where there are many inputs and coordination that requires management to get the job done. Our core function is to deliver on time, on budget and to top quality standards. “We believe we have a different culture to many other project managers as we get involved in the project directly. We also expand our scope beyond that of a normal project manager to help our clients put projects together – we perform a development management role before the project gets underway. “We’re also heavily involved in the financial and commercial aspects of
the project,” Woodruff concludes of the all-encompassing way in which GHC tackles its work. “Looking at our track record, we’ve completed some very high-profile projects including the Mall of Africa – the largest single phase retail centre development in sub-Saharan Africa – and Menlyn Mall, the biggest refurbishment of a retail centre. “We’re not a big company in terms of numbers but we have a core of excellent people who deliver these projects and we have an untainted record of delivering on time, within budget and to the required quality.”
WWW.GHCAFRICA.CO.ZA
Alc Lift Consultants ALC have been privileged to have been associated with GHC in many iconic projects. GHC have managed these projects professionally with the client’s interests in the forefront.
(011) 867 2308
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083 444 2284
Sandton City South East Extension Woolworths repositioning Sandton City Level 2 re-development Nelson Mandela Square re-development Sandton Office Towers Sandton Sun Hotel Atrium on 5th The Mall of Africa Sandton City re-development Phase 1&2
paulalc@mweb.co.za
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April 2018
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH OASIS WATER MANAGING DIRECTOR, MYNHARDT OOSTHUIZEN
Taking Finest Quality Purified And Oxygenated Water
Where It Is Needed Most
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Rolfe Laboratories / Wonga SA / NFB Financial Services / RussellStone Group
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ENTERPRISE AFRICA
APR IL 2018