Construction World July 2015

> MARKETPLACE

A free service – anyone from paint contractors, artisans, and entrepreneurs, to home owners, and DIY enthusiasts – can register for the product knowledge and basic paint technology courses that span a full day. Once learners have completed these introductory courses, they are free to enrol for a more comprehensive online eLearning course. A certificated course – learners only receive their accreditation from Prominent Paints once they have completed and successfully passed the eLearning module. According to technical services consultant at Prominent Paints, Herman Rabe, the courses are both theoretical and practical and the introductory modules cover everything from Prominent Pa int s , a ful l y integrated member of PPG and a leading paint manufacturer in South Africa, is addressing the skills shortage within the local paint industry through its Training Academy. Since its inception almost 35 years ago, the academy has invested in the training of almost 12 000 learners, a number the group is committed to growing. > SHORTAGE OF SKILLS IN PAINT INDUSTRY

the paint make up, to calculating the Dry Film Thickness (DFT) and the influence the Micro and Macro climates will have on paint when applied. The fundamentals of surface preparation are covered extensively, as is choosing the right paint system for various substrates. “Our courses run once a month from the Prominent Paints head office in Alberton. Not wanting to limit training to one province, on request, our trainers will travel to any other region or even African country to deliver this sought after service,” says Rabe. “At Prominent Paints, we feel that DIY should be about more than just paint – it is about responsible and strong leadership, innovative paint solutions, real partnerships and a passion for doing the right thing and our corporate responsibility projects must mirror this,” adds Rabe. “With so much more than just colour to consider when searching for a paint solution, we believe in investing in the artisans and indi- viduals who are going to be choosing and using our products.

“As a manufacturer and marketer of paint prod- ucts that adhere to international best practices and actively promote the drive towards environ- mental sustainability, Prominent Paints is a brand with substance and our corporate responsibility projects must mirror this,” concludes Rabe. Anyone interested in this free service offered by the Prominent Paints Training Academy should contact the customer care depart- ment on 0861 77 66 46. Alternatively email: academy@prominentpaints.co.za Prominent Paints was established in 1981 and celebrated its 30 years of manufacturing in SA in 2011. Prominent Paints is a proud member of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and from an ecological

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perspective, its paint is lead free, complies to, and even exceeds the standards set by the GBCSA.

A DECADE IN TANZANIA UWP Consulting (Tanzania) opened its doors as a partnership between Tanzanian professionals and South African engineering consulting practice UWP Consulting a decade ago.

The company is looking to increase its client base by exploring opportunities in the private sector, in mining and through joint ventures with other professional firms in airport, railway and harbour projects. “We are also hoping to implement a strong succession plan by employing young profes- sionals, providing training and giving them the opportunity to acquire shares. This is a contin- uous process which began in 2014 when our first young professionals acquired a shareholding in UWP Consulting (Tanzania).”

The Tanzanian business has successfully completed roads and water projects valued at more than USD10-million, with structures and capacity building assignments further expanding its portfolio in the last few years. UWP Consulting (Tanzania) was registered as a local engineering consulting firm in May 2005, with five local professionals holding 51% of the shares and UWP Holdings 49%. The company was started after Henry Catma, an engineer based in Dar es Salaam, responded to UWP’s search for an individual or small company to form a joint venture in Tanzania. The timing was particularly good as Catma and four other Tanzanian professionals were in the initial stages of establishing a local company called Tangroup Professionals (TANPROL). “It was easy to integrate TANPROL with UWP SA to formUWP Consulting (Tanzania) since both were targeting the same markets,” says Catma, >

who has served as managing director of the company from its inception. The other founding shareholders in the company are not involved in the day-to- day operations. For several months Catma was the only full-time employee in the fledgling Tanzanian business, but the first major breakthrough came in 2006 when three municipal road upgrading projects were awarded in succession and two more engineers joined the firm. Today UWP Consulting (Tanzania) has a staff complement of 20, including six professional engineers, and has successfully completed numerous projects alone and in joint venture with UWP SA. Notable awards include the design of the 65 km Tanga-Horohoro and 78 km Perami- ho-Mbinga roads, and supervision of the high profile Lower Ruvu Water Treatment Plant providing potable water to Dar es Salaam.

Henry Catma, managing director of UWP Consulting (Tanzania).

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2015