News & Media

29 April 2009

CONCOR OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE

Concor Building is cautiously optimistic about the future. While acknowledging that margins are tighter the company believes that with the correct people in place to execute projects, coupled with its strong established track record for project delivery safely, on time and within budget, it will continue to prosper in the built environment. Managing director of Concor Building, Brad Wantenaar, points out that Concor Building has an established track record within the hospitality and leisure sector in the building industry. “There is currently a huge shortage of hotel accommodation in Gauteng and this is the area in which we have been very active. This is augmented by the pressing need for 2010 accommodation. In addition to this market, we remain actively involved in retail, commercial and industrial building developments and have successfully completed large projects in these areas in recent months.”

Brad Wantenaar, managing director of Concor Building.

Some notable projects include the 175 000 m2 campus for the Department of Foreign Affairs. “We will have completed this R1.3-billion project in only 20 months, outlining our ability to succeed in the face of difficult project conditions,” Wantenaar says. “We are also currently finishing off the Nampak paper mill and the SAB Breweries Rosslyn plant.

“Our participation on the Gautrain project includes a lot of work that has already been negotiated such as the Marlboro Station parking deck, Hatfield Station parkade and the Midrand Station.

A project to build an office and laboratory at Sasol Sasolburg has been secured and the company has just completed the refurbishment of Kathryn Street City Lodge with all rooms being redone, and a new gym and conference centre having been built. “We are also currently negotiating a major contract in Pretoria for a hotel and office block,” Wantenaar says.

With occupancy at 85 to 90%, there is still a big opportunity in the hospitality and leisure sector. “Even within the current economic situation, the need for new hotels and accommodation will continue. The high interest rates and fuel price increases might have resulted in some shopping centres and retail sector developments being put on hold, but with 2010 looming the hotel sector continues to boom, which places us in a very enviable position,” Wantenaar adds.

The company has a holistic approach to operational success. “The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so we believe in achieving a sustainable balance between the various elements in our business which will ultimately retain our success in the market,” Wantenaar says.

“Our business methodology and strategy is modelled on delivery and relationship building. We are in the business of meeting and exceeding the client’s expectations and handing over a quality building on time and within budget, but without compromising the project.

“Concor Building is a people orientated company and it is this, as well as the level of training, skills development and mentoring that we invest in our staff, that makes the company a preferred employer. We have a commitment to continuous learning through the training and development of all people we employ, from our unskilled personnel right up to director level. We, in turn, expect employees to develop and maintain a credo of ownership, accountability and live by the company ethos,” Wantenaar says.

“We place extreme emphasis on the quality and safety management systems we have in place and we are often approached by people in the industry because of the humane and caring way in which we treat people. We also allow people to be who they are, embrace their individual strengths, allow them to realise their own potential and to work within structures that foster this,” Wantenaar adds.

“Our relationship with our clients is such that we often negotiate projects as the preferred supplier to a large number of companies in the industry. We acknowledge that no project is without its challenges but when there are solid relationships in place it is easier to work through these to the benefit of all involved. The fact that we secure a great deal of repeat work means that we are obviously achieving our aims,” Wantenaar says.

Wantenaar says that the company takes a very flexible approach to business and will tackle large through to medium and even small projects. “However on some of the very small projects, we cannot be as competitive because of our inherent structure. Nevertheless, we offer all our clients, irrespective of projects size and value, the same level of service.

“This flexibility means that we are also looking at expanding beyond the traditional greater Gauteng area in which we operate by considering prospects in other regions,” Wantenaar adds.

“Our operating ethos means that in delivering a project we ensure we have the necessary resources, be it people or machinery, in place. This implies that these people have the necessary expertise and skills level as it is this factor that will determine the final quality on project,” Wantenaar says.

“Success can also be attributed to the relationships we form with our clients. We take a long term view on client relationships as well as the symbiotic relationships we form with the entire professional team. This includes the client, the developer (if different), the architects and the engineers.

“Ultimately this is about bringing a sustainable work methodology and ethic to the fore. Concor Building has the necessary resources and just as importantly, we have the capacity to be able to take on significant projects,” Wantenaar concludes.

The new four-star Sandton Holiday Inn.

The section within the new international departures area of OR Thambo International Airport.