Bidvest Academy

The Academy was conceived as an incubator of managerial talent and mechanism for addressing a strategic business risk – chronic shortage of leadership skills across the South African economy.

The Academy’s continuing relevance and the importance of its role were reinforced with the introduction of the eighth programme to prepare selected young managers for success as future Bidvest leaders.

The first graduate programme bringing alumni together to equip them for further progress in their Bidvest careers, was completed.

Graduate programme participants from Caterplus reported on and implemented a pilot biofuel project in their George branch based on learnings from 3663 (a UK pioneer of environmentally friendly biofuel utilisation through the recycling of used cooking oil).

Communication

We continued to roll-out our corporate brand-building campaign on TV and in print. The advertising featuring the dance company, Pilobolus, increased our company awareness when it went on the internet. The development was spontaneous as impressed TV viewers shared clips of the ad across social media, in the process building increased name recognition for Bidvest.

Group magazine Bidvoice has been revitalised and takes on an increasingly important role as a communicator of strategic themes while greater use is being made of the Group intranet to supplement the regular TV broadcasts by chief executive Brian Joffe to Bidvest employees.

Growing numbers of employees have net access and we currently communicate via email with 30 000 colleagues worldwide. Regular updates are sent on matters of strategic or employee interest. We are looking to expand our reach via SMS to those without e-mail and are investigating the effectiveness in high-traffic areas of a Bidvest internet kiosk with TV link.

Our website and intranet were merged, driving traffic from both sites to one. The intranet is being further upgraded to create seamless movement between the two.

The communications team have been given the task of spreading the sustainable development message, using all the tools at their disposal. In addition, the Group’s businesses and products brochure has been expanded to include a product directory.

The unifying “Proudly Bidvest” banner now covers Group operations on four continents and has become a key element in the rebranding of New Zealand operations under the Bidvest name.

2010 commercialisation Finalisation of a wide-ranging procurement contract with FIFA-appointed MATCH Hospitality AG, in which we have a minority interest, secured our status as preferred suppliers to the biggest service provider to the World Cup. Tendering opportunities resulted for both Confederations and World Cup events. The 2010 commercialisation unit is in place to create an enabling environment, build relationships and ensure “a place at the table”. Group businesses decide which opportunities to pursue and work on the commercial terms of specific tenders. Possible commercial opportunities were identified in: cleaning services, staffing solutions, toilet facilities, turf, printing, fulfilment items and ticketing, stationery, corporate gifts, furniture supply, electrical work and cabling, catering equipment, freight logistics, forklift trucks, food supply, laundry and garment services, fleet services, travel bookings and tours, air charter, ground transfers and VIP airport services.

By year-end, with the Confederation Cup under way and the World Cup only a year off, the focus shifted to “second tier” and spin-off opportunities. As FIFA appoints “master concessionaires” these companies seek sub-contractors that can meet specific needs to international quality standards. Relationships with key concessionaires in the logistics and catering sectors have been established, more are in the pipeline.

Contact has also been made with the local organising committee and representatives of World Cup host cities.

Bidvest is well positioned to pursue a new wave of opportunities as needs are quantified for facilities such as local fan parks.

Commercialisation activities will gather pace on the run-in to the World Cup kick-off on June 11 2010. Prospects of sporting event commercialisation beyond 2010 also appear promising. Relocation of the IPL T20 cricket tournament and the staging of the Confederation and World Cups have focused international attention on South Africa as a desirable venue for major events. Government can be expected to seek a continued return on its investment in sporting infrastructure, suggesting official support for efforts to attract international tournaments and sports tourists.

Bidvest Wits

Bidvest is not only the sponsor of Bidvest Wits, we own a 60% stake in the football club and all marketing rights. The team, which finished comfortably in the top half of the Premier Soccer League standings, has proved to be the ideal vehicle for increasing awareness of the Bidvest brand among South Africans.

Bidvest Wits has also become an important means of reaching out to black youth. The club runs an academy for under-17s. Bidvest Wits also partners the Dutch government and the South African Police Service in a programme to take children off the streets of Hillbrow, Johannesburg, and provide them with both life and soccer skills.