Business
PROJECT ENGAGE SMME BUSINESS INCUBATOR LAUNCHED AT SPU
Edited by Eamonn Ryan
Department of Higher Education sets ambitious empowerment and skills development targets .
All photos by AECOM
Four training sessions have already been held for the 15 Small , Medium and Micro Enterprises ( SMMEs ) providing services to the R3.8-billion development of the three Sol Plaatje University ( SPU ) campuses in Kimberley in the Northern Cape , one of the first two tertiary education developments in post-apartheid South Africa . A key focus of the project has been community involvement and upskilling of SMMEs . Specific targets for local participation , empowerment and skills development have been set in conjunction with the Department of Higher Education , reports SPU client representative Christine- Ann Paddon , advisor to the Office of the COO .
The SMMEs have been selected for the year-long Project Engage business incubator developed by global trusted infrastructure consulting firm AECOM , in conjunction with SPU , as part of its Enterprise and Supplier Development ( ESD ) commitment to the flagship project . AECOM ’ s role as principal agent for the client means that it has overseen more than 30 projects to date , from refurbishments to new-build infrastructure , all managed by a 16-strong team .
AECOM ESD manager Yumna Ameer was appointed to the SPU project team to keep track of the construction development targets . These covered the commercial terms and conditions that the main contractor had committed to in terms of contributing to job creation , local procurement , and skills development . “ The client and I started engaging about potential legacy projects to invest time and resources in ,” explains Ameer .
Launching Project Engage for SPU has involved stakeholders such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency ( SEDA ) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency ( SEFA ). A roadshow was embarked on for all relevant stakeholders , including SARS , the Department of Public Works in the Northern Cape and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism . AECOM itself provided its in-house expertise in project management , based on best practice such as PMBOK ( Project Management Body of Knowledge ).
It is important for the SMMEs to understand how to transition into a project management role and resource and
“ AECOM ’ s role as principal agent for the client means that it has overseen more than 30 projects to date , from refurbishments to newbuild infrastructure , all managed by a 16-strong team .”
Sol Plaatje University ( SPU ), Kimberley .
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