THE POWER GROUP CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Published in the Eastern Cape Herald 9th May

As friends, clients, colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders gathered at Elizabeth Place Conference Centre to celebrate the Power Group’s 25th year in business, executive chairman Graham Power introduced an initiative aimed at changing the way we conduct business – and indeed our lives – in South Africa.
A quarter of a century ago, Power set out in an orange second-hand bakkie on a journey that would do much to alter the face of construction and engineering in South Africa.  

That day in April 1983 marked the beginning of a career and the birth of a company that would have as its core purpose “to improve the quality of life in Africa through infrastructure development”.

Take the pledge!
Now, through the “Unashamedly Ethical” initiative, Graham Power is encouraging all who value ethical, honest and fair business practices to sign a pledge to be ethical in all their dealings and actions. (See www.itnafrica.com.)

Power holds strong views on the effects of corruption: “Unless we eradicate systemic corruption, we cannot eradicate systemic poverty.”

Eastern Cape active
Power’s positive message about the industry and ethics was followed by an equally upbeat overview by André du Preez, CEO of Power Construction.
Glenville Cullum (SAFCEC president) and Jacques du Preez, the Power Construction’s local divisional executive, thanked clients and suppliers and praised staff members for staying true to the Group’s values and its vision, which is “to be recognised and respected as the first choice supplier of civil, development and building services”.

As Graham Power says, “This commitment to uphold our purpose, our vision and our values guides us in our daily tasks. It reminds us, encourages us and motivates us to do everything in an “Unashamedly Ethical” way.”

Power to the people
One of the most visible demonstrations of the Power Group’s commitment to the bettering of the lives of people has been the co-ownership offer in 2007 to all its employees with five year’s service or longer.

This followed the restructuring of the 12 companies in the Group into two, Power Construction and Power Developments.
Every permanent staff member who has been with the Group for longer than five years can now have a direct share in the profits each year.
Ownership now resides with three shareholders: Power Group Holdings (70% interest); the Power Group Employee Trust (20%); and the Power Group Investment Trust (10%)

Through the trusts, the 420 unitholding employees hold the same share of ownership in both Power Construction and Power Developments.

At all times, at least 20% of shareholding of both companies through the Investment Trust and the Employee Trust will be in black hands.