15 YEARS OF SETTING TRENDS

WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION

INDUSTRY

Umso Construction

Umso Construction ushers in a remarkable milestone fueled by passion, determination and world class services.

Umso Construction (Umso) specialises in general Civil Engineering services, including but not limited to, roadworks, water and sewer reticulation, concrete structures, bridges and box culverts. Founded in 1996 as a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) company, in 2004 Umso transformed into a prominent Historically Disadvantaged Company (HDC).

With its head office based in East London within the Eastern Cape Province, the company, through successive execution of quality work, has expanded its client base throughout the entire country. Umso’s regional offices throughout the country are within the following regions: Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng Provinces, Umso’s client base includes both the public and private sector culminating in projects such as Gautrain, Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, Coega Development Corporation IDZ, including the Multi- Purpose Pipeline (Durban to Johannesburg).

With such breadth of achievement by a growing company, a natural question arises - how is this achieved? Quite simply, Umso invests in its people and service delivery.

“Umso is a construction company that marries profitably and commercial pursuits seamlessly with community development and the betterment of residents it serves.”

Investing in what worksBoasting over 160 units of various construction and

workshop equipment, its workshop is comprehensively equipped with all the required tools and equipment. The standard set by the workshop operations has made it possible for Umso to be one of the few companies accredited by Mercedes-Benz as a fully fledged service centre. This

accreditation lends to many benefits amongst them is reduced on-site downtime due to a breakdown or scheduled service. The

magnitude and size of projects Umso takes on dictates its investment in new equipment. Furthermore, the ever increasing size of its fleet is congruent with the increasing requirement for more competent technicians and support staff. As a result Umso has an internal training programme and its workshop registered with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA) as an approved training facility. From this programme annually a pool of qualified technicians is produced that enables the company to meet its human resources requirements, yet more importantly, allows Umso to provide deserving underprivileged individuals with a valuable skill. Showing that Umso cares not only for its staff, but for the

communities it serves.

Caring for the communityUmso understands the reality and conditions suffered by

the vast majority of residents in the communities it serves. Hence it has undertaken to make a difference by committing to pursue a wide range of corporate social investments (CSI) initiatives. These CSIs take the form of school educational programmes, orphanages and retirement homes, community sports, child-headed home support programmes, family nutrition programmes and community awareness programmes. The company’s participation is often triggered and driven by similarities of its experiences as members of these communities that are so diverse in fortunes. This participation has been entrenched in Umso’s organisational culture and continues to be our way of life.

Leading by exampleGood companies become great through dynamic

YEARS OFEXCELLENCE

Umso Construction

leadership, something Umso is not short on. Umso’s management and key staff consists of approximately 200 employees, supplemented by another 500 permanent staff and about 1200 project-based individuals. This workforce is lead by a competent management team comprising adept professionals that oversees core functions of the business at operations and divisional levels. Their duties include day-to-day operational activities ranging from project delivery schedules to client liaison. They are supported by teams of managers, engineers, foremen and construction supervisors whose contribution is central to the company’s capacity to deliver services.

STATISTICS/ DEMOGRAPHICS/ HISTORYYear founded: 1996Employees: ±1 000Branches: SixMemberships: SAFBECCurrent customer base: Municipalities (Metro, District and Local), Department of Roads & Public Works, organs of state entities (Transnet, SANRAL, infrastructure agencies such as IDZs), private sector

NATURE OF BUSINESSActivity: Civil Engineering and ConstructionProducts/services offered: Engineering and Construction services: roadworks, road expansion, haulage, stockpiling, concrete water retaining structures, pre-cast concrete water reservoirs, pressed steel water reservoirs, water purification and water reticulation

CONTRACTS & AWARDSEnvironmental health & safety standards:Committed to ensuring the highest Safety, Health and Environmental Standards (SHE) MajorContracts: Construction of Ring Road (Phase 1&2) and

Dedisa Road, in Coega IDZ, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape (R83.46-million), Gauteng FreewayImprovement Project PackageE - 10% JV participation, Johannesburg, Gauteng (R2.08-billion), Olifants RiverBridge & Road near Penge – Sekhukhune, Limpopo (R46.7-million).Awards: 2009 FEM Award of Excellence – 2nd Place

TRAINING & CSITraining programmes: Committed to the transfer of skills through on-thejob-training, mentorship and constructive feedbackEmployee incentive schemes: Developing and training employees at all levels so they can reach their full potential, with a particular focus on those who were previously disadvantagedEmpowerment initiatives: Participation in community development projects where local sub-contractors are given preference and are invited and assisted to price all sub-contracts and promote enterprise developmentCSI initiatives: Supports school educational programmes, orphanages and old-age homes, community sports programmes, child-headed homes support programmes, family nutrition programmes and community awareness programmes

EMPOWERMENT STATUSBlack Empowerment Level:Shareholding: >50.1%Executive directors: >50.1%Non-executive directors: 25.1%-50%Total staff: 5%-25%

YEARS OFEXCELLENCE

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Umso Construction25 Ray Craid Crescent, Beacon Bay, East London 5241Postal address: PO Box 2394, Beacon Bay 5205Telephone: +27 (0)43 748 4747Fax: +27 (0)43 748 4677Email: info@umso.co.za | Website: www.umso.co.za

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