Construction Industry Development
EPWP
ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE
Virtual Consulting Engineers developed an in-house Enterprise Development Programme to identify and provide mentoring services to contractors who can benefit from experience and expertise in the built environment. The modules covered during mentoring include skills transfer of:
- Entrepreneurship and successful tendering
- Application for credit rating and loans to finance construction
- Administrative systems, for cost control and procurement
- Construction contracts, legal compliance, labour law and negotiations
- Technical skills and construction programming
Through this programme, several emerging contractors have progressed to successfully complete significant projects.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Virtual Consulting Engineers is conversant in managing and monitoring all aspects of EPWP as part of projects, or as strategic programmes, since 2007. Our experience includes the planning, management and monitoring of activities that involve:
- Gathering information to define project context
- Analysing data to assess capacity for empowerment
- Determining realistic empowerment impact targets
- Implementing the empowerment strategy
- Providing mentorship to construction companies
- Ensuring compliance with empowerment targets throughout the project, on site
- Social facilitation, setting up project steering committees and community liaison
We have completed numerous Empowerment Impact Assessments for infrastructure development and repair and maintenance projects implemented by National and Provincial Governments.
PROJECTS
National Youth Service (2007 – 2011)
Department of Public Works
Virtual Consulting Engineers managed the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme – National Youth Service on over 200 Capital and Maintenance projects nationally. These projects accounted for technical training and work experience of approximately 1,400 beneficiaries. The programme has since evolved into many other initiatives.
Water and Wastewater Process Controllers (2007 – 2013) (2008)
Department of Public Works
We were responsible for the management of an On-the-Job training programme that allowed beneficiaries to achieve credits towards the National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Process Operation. Classroom learning and workplace coaching were provided to beneficiaries who were able to progress up to Process Controller level 3.
Employment Creation Programme (2004 – 2006)
Department of Public Works
Virtual Consulting Engineers implemented and monitored the EPWP Learnership Programme as well as the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme for the Department of Provincial and Local Government. We were instrumental in ensuring that training provided to over 7,000 learners in identified scarce skills were relevant, accredited and cost effective.
Empowerment Impact Assessment and Monitoring (2010 – 2020)
Western Cape Provincial Government
We completed Empowerment Impact Assessments on behalf of the Western Cape Government-Department of Transport and Public Works. We successfully implemented Contract Participation Goal targets on over 50 infrastructure projects, which included Education and Health Facilities, such as schools, clinics, ambulance stations, as well as the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Emerging Contractor Support and Mentoring (2012 – 2020)
Western Cape Provincial Government
As part of the “Siyenyuka Advanced Mentoring and Training Programme”, Virtual Consulting Engineers has been mentoring contractors with Project Management skills both on-site and off-site, since 2012. Through this programme, we have transferred skills to over 20 contractors, some of whom advanced from CIDB Grade 3 to Grade 7 over the 18 month programme.