PPC Botswana, the local cement manufacturer, on Friday launched its annual No.1 Builder Competition at a media briefing in Gaborone.
The contest, which is going into the third year, targets all builders big and small in two categories ÔÇô Civil and Commercial, and the Building Construction.
The project is aimed at showcasing excellence in Botswana’s building industry. By rewarding outstanding projects in the two categories, PPC is encouraging industry’s best practice and standards.
PPC Botswana General Manager, Werner De Beer, said they are excited about this year’s competition and expects quality submissions to convince the judges that are drawn from Botswana’s construction industry.
“Our partners, Tshipidi Badiri, AAB, ABCON and CRSG as representatives of major players in the construction industry, will bring their respective members to the workshops. Together we can capacitate the industry about safety, standards and trends,” Werner De Beer said.
“PPC will bring concrete technology experts, architects and many more to share their expertise as part of the education drive of Number 1 Builder Competition. This is a way of giving back to the community where we operate and draw our employees,” he said.
As a build up to this year’s contest battle, the organisers said they will go into a public education campaign in the country’s major centres through workshops. The competition started in 2010 with over 3000 applications and the list dropped to 70 in 2011.
Werner De Beer said it is difficult to say the number of submissions expected. The judging criterion includes quality of workmanship, safety practices on site, being on time and within budget, application, finishing and the overall aesthetic appeal of the finished project.
Prizes up for grabs include a Toyota bakkie, one ton of cement and a certificate of excellence in Building for the overall winner in the Civil and Commercial category with many consolation prizes, whilst for the Building Construction category in addition to the certificate of excellence in building the overall winner will take home a 7 ton Toyota truck and one ton of cement.
“The competition’s panel of judges is drawn from 4 of the key Botswana industry associations, namely AAB, ABCON, CRSG and Tshipidi Badiri. All of these associations are represented by individuals with diverse backgrounds ranging from Project management, architecture, civil engineering and quantity surveying. PPC also brings its wealth of experience to the table with Risk professionals and Concrete Technologists. They do not only boast a lot of expertise in the industry but they bring unique thinking when reviewing various projects of the competition, and this is a critical aspect of the competition,” explained de Beer.
PPC Botswana has announced its third annual Botswana’s No.1 Builder Competition. Unlike in the previous competitions, PPC has this year, invested in countrywide workshops to take place in major construction sites in Gaborone on the 10th and 17th August 2012, in Maun on the 11th August 2012 and in Francistown on the 18th August 2012.
PPC Botswana’s Number 1 Builder Competition targets all builders big and small in two categories ÔÇô Civil and Commercial, and the Building Construction. It aims to showcase excellence in Botswana’s building industry. By rewarding outstanding projects in the two categories, PPC is encouraging industry’s best practice and standards.
The competition is expected to run from August to October after which short listing will take place. The Award Ceremony is set for December 2012 where prizes such as a double cab Toyota Bakkie, Hino, and a ton of cement are up for grabs.
