6 minute read
A better world with BVi
by 3S Media
Investing in infrastructure presents exciting new possibilities. IMIESA speaks to David Leukes, managing director, BVi Consulting Engineers, about what it takes to spearhead change within South Africa’s current and future built environment.
What does transformation mean for BVi?
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DL At BVi, we believe transformation must be actioned through structured programmes. In this way, it remains dynamic, driven with intent and part of our vision, ensuring that everyone has ownership. Our Level 1 BBBEE status bears witness to this.
Transformation is about empowering our staff, especially our young graduates, and our black, woman and young professionals to reach their full potential. As part of our Education and Training Programme, we provide bursary opportunities for aspiring built environment students to achieve their dreams.
Through the years, we’ve also noticed that it’s becoming challenging for young graduates to gain access to career opportunities in our industry. This motivated us to establish our BVi Academy for engineering graduates to participate in a structured, well-mentored internship programme. We also established a BBBEE Employee Trust for our young black professionals to enable them to develop into future leaders in our company and industry. As a business, BVi is 54% black owned,
Engineers with more than 50% of its shareholding owned by professional engineers and technologists. All BVi shares are owned by South African citizens. With a minimum of 50% black representation at management level, we are also one of the few larger firms that are black managed.
By applying a strict equity policy to recruitment, 70% of all new recruits in the last year were black. In time, this will further improve BVi’s equity ratios to reflect a fair representation on all levels.
We also procure from BBBEE companies and have assisted a number of smaller firms to learn the essential skills needed to operate in the consulting engineering environment. Furthermore, every BVi branch is involved in social corporate responsibility projects.
In 2017, in celebration of our 50th anniversary, we launched the successful BVi Visionaries project. Seven winners nationally became ‘BVi Visionaries’ – each of them qualifying for a bursary and educational support for the duration of their studies. These visionaries are now in their second year of study.
At BVi, we are passionate about education and committed to the growth and personal development of our entire workforce, with 15% of our shareholding sold to the BVi BBBEE Employee Trust.
These and other initiatives all ensure that our transformation goals become achievable actions owned by all BVi Group employees.
How have traditional consulting services evolved in the past decade?
I’ve been in the consulting engineering industry for the last 26 years. Over time, services have diversified, with many companies becoming multidisciplinary in response to client demand. Innovation and technology have also played a huge role in the way we design and share ideas with clients.
I have seen our industry going from producing contour surveys, designs and drawings on draughting tables to developing and implementing computeraided design programs. Clients are now able to view 3D models ahead of construction and visualise the impact it will have. Construction materials and their application have also greatly improved thanks to ongoing research and development initiatives, providing further value for clients.
In recent years, our industry has been affected by key factors like economic downgrades, recessions and high interest rates. I’m sure we will face yet more challenges in the future. The upside is that this has motivated us to adapt. At BVi, we’ve learnt to embrace change and focus on providing improved solutions. This has assisted in shaping our industry for the better.
What’s different about BVi’s management approach?
BVi’s unique structure ensures that senior management members actively participate daily in our projects, which means they are easily accessible to clients, staff and communities.
Personal attention on a project level ensures superior quality and service. Furthermore, our decision-making authority is strongly decentralised, enabling managers to make operational decisions and execute projects without red tape. We believe this structure is the key to our success and differentiates us from other larger engineering firms.
How does your business integrity management system work?
As a member of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), BVi embraces CESA’s Business Integrity Management System (BIMS).
BIMS defines how we engage with clients and is reinforced by the core values that define our company culture, namely: • value for money • quality • build and maintain trust • innovation • high level of personal attention • sustainable support • health and safety • respect for deadlines • resource-sensitive solutions • employee personal empowerment.
Is information and communications technology (ICT) redefining engineering as we know it?
ICT is growing at an explosive rate, so businesses must have systems in place that are flexible, adaptable and embrace new or improved technologies. At BVi, we stay current by investing in technology that enables our services to evolve in innovative ways.
Face-to-face communication can never be replaced; the value of human interaction cannot be downplayed. ICT has, however, improved efficiencies in the way we communicate remotely. There is a reduction in travel time and the carbon footprint has been reduced.
Where do you see the growth post Covid-19?
Covid-19 is a tragic event and BVi would like to offer its sincerest condolences to the many in our nation that have experienced the loss of loved ones. We are also well aware of the financial hardship caused by the pandemic.
As South Africans, our resilience will indeed be tested in the current disruptive environment. But we have survived worse situations and we will prevail.
Economic conditions were already challenging before Covid-19. The pandemic presents new ones, but as management we have chosen to deal with all of them in a positive and productive manner.
Based on lessons learnt in previous years, we’d already modernised and right-sized our business prior to the lockdown. We remain confident that continuous improvement in our operational and business systems now positions us well to seize future opportunities.
We know that socioeconomic growth will be led by investment in infrastructure, underscored by recent events like government’s Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (Sidssa).
Are the big roads developments coming back?
Over the past few months, clients like Sanral have started to advertise new bids in most parts of our country. The agency also plans to roll out more than 200 additional road infrastructure projects across all nine provinces of South Africa. We remain optimistic that provincial road departments will follow suit. Sidssa also identified key routes for construction and, yes, we believe that these projects will be awarded and implemented soon.
How can consulting engineers help to improve municipal delivery?
As a multidisciplinary service provider, with years of municipal engineering experience, we can and do add tremendous value and sound advice.
Municipalities face many challenges when it comes to service delivery. We
accept that challenge and must continue to present innovative, labour-intensive and cost-effective solutions. We look forward to further engagement with municipalities across South Africa.
What is BVi’s outlook for the balance of 2020 and going into 2021?
At BVi, we believe that we must and will play a key part in defining not just our own future, but also the future of the built environment. As a business, we will continue to streamline our operations and business model, while building on our established network of strategic relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders.
We have a stable order book, which can only improve, and we will redouble our efforts to engineer the best value for our clients, staff, communities and the environment.
