The African Construction and Totally Concrete Expo will be introducing a free, CPD-accredited training programme at this year’s event, taking place on 23 and 24 May 2017 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. T
his offering will contribute towards transformation in the construction industry and the development of Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprise (SMME) contractors, which have been recognised by government and business as crucial for industry development, economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation.
Hosted by AfriSam and Builders Warehouse, the Contractors Corner aligns the expo with the recent commitment by government and seven major contractors to support and promote enterprise development and industry transformation in Africa’s construction marketplace.
The initiative will offer emerging SMME contractors unprecedented opportunities to find out about new projects opening for tender, learn about the latest available materials and technologies, develop soft and hard skills as well as participate in competitions and prize giveaways.
It will be held within the first-ever African outdoor workshop auditorium and is set to feature live-streaming masterclasses along with hands-on product demos.
“The Contractors Corner is designed to boost the participation of these contractors both at the event and
in the country’s economy by equipping them with knowledge and skills to enhance their daily operations,” says Soren du Preez, Programme Director of Africa’s mega construction and infrastructure show.
Victor Bouguenon, Group Marketing Manager, AfriSam, adds: “AfriSam is proud to sponsor the new Contractors Corner at this year’s African Construction and Totally Concrete Expo.
We understand the growing importance of the small to medium contractor, the challenges they face and the real possibilities they can unlock for our industry and our country. As a leader in the construction materials industry, we believe that we have an inherent responsibility to support, uplift and promote emerging participants in the building sector.”
Items to be covered in the Contractors Corner include Readymix concrete masterclasses; Finance and building materials for government projects and Best practices in key account management and material supply.
President of Small Contractors Association of South Africa (SCASA), Thobile Madikizela
shares: “The African Construction and Totally Concrete Expo’s all new Contractors Corner is an initiative in alignment with the SCASA that aims to uplift and empower small contractors in South Africa through training and capacity building.”
In addition to the sessions provided in the Contractors Corner, interactive professional and commercial classes will be offered on the Expo floor at no charge. These CPD-accredited workshops will comprise a variety of expert presentations addressing subjects ranging from
high-performance waterproofing and Readymix troubleshooting to a business case for builders’ rubble in construction.
As Africa’s largest gathering of built environment professionals, the Expo will also provide ample chances for SMME and main contractors, as well as others working across varied sectors of the industry, to network.
With transformation being a crucial aspect of this year’s Expo, the Women in Construction Awards will be hosted at the event. The Awards allow stakeholders to demonstrate their commitment to equality and inclusivity in the construction arena whilst enabling the industry to celebrate its women pioneers and rising stars who have made a vital contribution to development.
“We believe that enterprise development, gender empowerment and transformation are key to unlocking the
future potential of the construction industry and ultimately closing Africa’s infrastructure gap,” concludes du Preez.
For more information or to register, visit
www.totallyconcrete.co.za
