The world in which we operate
The Group’s entrepreneurial spirit is evidenced by growth. This is achieved by exploring new opportunities and taking calculated risks. Risk and opportunity are two ends of the same spectrum. To proactively respond to change and achieve growth, there is a strategic need to explore new opportunities and directions, while managing attendant risks.
In our highly diversified business environment, our key material issues are sometimes difficult to consistently define as our businesses span a wide spectrum of industries and geographies. Bidvest’s decentralised structure forms the basis of the Group’s business continuity plan. This decentralised risk management approach provides an effective, robust and integrated risk model. Another fundamental risk management mechanism is Bidvest’s diversified business model, making entrepreneurial managers accountable for all aspects of performance and delivery. The following strategic issues have been identified as having a significant impact on the long-term sustainability of our business.
People |
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MATERIAL ISSUES |
KPI |
TARGETS |
GENERAL |
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Our human and intellectual capital is our people’s competencies, their experience and business knowledge. |
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Safety |
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Fatalities |
 |
Safety in the workplace for employees |
 |
Employee financial health |
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Ensure applicable compliance is achieved within our various industries over a five-year period |
Indicator to be updated so tracking of compliance can be achieved beginning 2015 |
Tough economic conditions can be devastating. Bidvest endeavours to have adequate support systems such as counselling in place |
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Although we track injury rate, the definition varies
across geographies, for example Mauritius includes
Insect bites. Reporting this indicator therefore would not
be material from a Group perspective.
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Skills and retain talent |
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Training |
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Continued investment in training |
Career pathing |
Graduate programmes |
Update indicator to allow reporting on training spend per person |
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Due to diverse nature of the Group each division and company will have their own targets in place.
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Health and wellness |
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HIV/Aids reporting |
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Improve reporting on this indicator set from the divisions over the next two years |
Offer education to the divisions on HIV/Aids via sustainability champions |
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Applicable to Bidvest South Africa |
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Labour relations |
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Wage-related issue |
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Strikes and strike days |
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Unionisation |
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B-BBEE |
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Indicators to be updated to track the effect of days lost due to absenteeism, strike action and injuries on the bottom line. |
Ensure ongoing communications with unions and our businesses |
Management aims to grow talented individuals with a B-BBEE emphasis |
Better reporting of the numbers via online data collation tool |
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Due to diverse nature of Group each division and company will have their own targets in place. |
EE only applicable to Bidvest South Africa. See operational reviews. |
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Above-inflation wage increases place pressure on competitiveness and margins. |
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Community investment |
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CSI spend |
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Report by type of CSI involvement |
Due to diverse nature of Group each division and company will have their own targets in place.
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GROUP PERSPECTIVE |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
 |
PEOPLE NUMBERS |
105 103 |
106 371 |
143 828 |
International |
15 992 |
16 731 |
18 093 |
Southern Africa |
89 111 |
89 640 |
125 735 |
Male |
60 587 |
60 959 |
85 713 |
Female |
44 516 |
45 412 |
58 115 |
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SAFETY |
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Lost-day rate |
14 |
18 |
16 |
Number of fatalities (during work or as a result of work) |
5 |
2 |
3 |
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SKILLS |
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|
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Training – Total costs (excluding learnerships and bursaries to employees) (R’m) |
154,0 |
170,2 |
206,7 |
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS |
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|
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Number of employees participating in HIV/Aids training and awareness campaigns |
20 709 |
48 516 |
78 309 |
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LABOUR |
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|
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Unionised employees as percentage of total eligible employees |
34,1 |
32,0 |
32,2 |
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COMMUNITY INVESTMENT |
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Community CSI spend (R’m) (including bursaries) |
65,2 |
112,2 |
106,1 |
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“Sustainability is how we view the Bidvest business mindset. It is all about creating value in the short, medium and long term. Value not only for our investors, the providers of capital, but value for all our stakeholders and importantly our 143 828 strong Proudly Bidvest family.”
Brian Joffe, Group chief executive
Performance |
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MATERIAL ISSUES |
GENERAL |
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Our financial capital |
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Financial controls |
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Financial controls including pursuing efficiencies, cost savings and responsible asset management remains a critical focus area. |
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Exchange rate volatility |
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Remains a challenge for many of our businesses with overseas suppliers and principals. |
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Planet |
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MATERIAL ISSUES |
KPI |
TARGETS |
GENERAL |
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Defining our natural capital we strive to minimise our environmental impact. |
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Ensure the future of our planet
Minimise impact of rising costs of fuel and electricity |
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Fuel usage |
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Electricity usage |
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Water usage |
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Waste monitoring |
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Paper usage |
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Continued monitoring and reporting on energy and fuel usage |
Changes to indicators for 2015 made according to new regulations and divisional feedback |
Evaluate the implications of the UN global compact |
Subscribe to CDP water and climate change in relevant industry sectors |
Subscribe to GRI : G4 |
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Due to major acquisitions by Bidvest, GHG increased |
Due to diverse nature of the Group each division and company will have its own targets in place |
Although water usage across the Group is low, it is continually monitored. |
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TOTAL CARBON |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
 |
GHG emissions (tonnes of CO2) |
725 828 |
697 653** |
795 133* |
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COMPARISON OF EMISSIONS INTENSITY PER PERSON AND BY REVENUE |
Unit |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
Full-time employees |
FTE |
105 103 |
106 371 |
143 828 |
Million rand revenue |
R’m |
137 235,0 |
156 533,2 |
187 776,0 |
Fuel use including diesel; petrol; coal and gas (carbon) (Scope 1) |
tCO2 |
397 674,0 |
383 033,9 |
427 084,0 |
Fuel use per person including diesel; petrol; coal and gas (Scope 1) |
tCO2/FTE |
3,6 |
3,6 |
3,0 |
Fuel use per revenue including diesel; petrol; coal and gas (carbon) |
tCO2/R’m |
2,9 |
2,4 |
2,3 |
Energy use in GJ |
GJ |
1 367 407,4 |
1 332 488,2 |
1 598 976,0 |
Energy use in carbon (Scope 2) |
tCO2 |
309 031,0 |
291 374,3 |
340 172,0 |
Energy use per person (carbon) |
tCO2/FTE |
2,9 |
2,7 |
2,4 |
Energy use per revenue (carbon) |
tCO2/R’m |
2,3 |
1,9 |
1,8 |
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WATER USAGE |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
 |
Total water usage (megalitres) |
2 929,3 |
2 849,8 |
3 712,1 |
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