PPC wins awards for gender equality initiatives

South Africa’s PPC Ltd was recognised for its gender equality programmes at the Gender Mainstreaming Awards, held in Johannesburg. These included the Empowerment Initiative Award, the Mainstreaming Gender and Disability Award and the Gender Mainstreaming Award Champion 2013. The company was also a finalist in the Investing in Young Women Award and Women Empowerment in the Workplace Award categories. PPC runs a range of initiatives to promote equality and increased opportunities for women in the workplace, such as the PPC Women’s Forum. Around 460 women are employed by PPC, accounting for 20.9% of the company’s workforce compared to 18.6% in 2011.

“We are elated to be recognised for our gender transformation initiatives. Through our employment equity initiatives and PPC transformation philosophy, PPC continues to strive to transform and develop its employees in terms of designated groups and organisational culture while promoting the principle of strength in diversity,” stated PPC’s Chief Financial Officer and Women’s Forum Chairperson.

Concrete meets art

PPC also won the Innovation Award at the 16th Annual Business Day BASA Awards in August. The award is in recognition of the cement company’s collaboration with fashion designer Suzaan Heyns who incorporated concrete into clothes. These garments were included in the Reimagine Concrete Collection, which was shown at SA Fashion Week in March 2012. In addition, PPC’s Young Concrete Sculptor Awards (YCSA) art competition meant that it was listed as a finalist in the Long Term Sponsorship and in the Youth Development Awards.

“We are delighted to be acknowledged for the contribution we make in the art fraternity at such a prestigious event. The Innovation Award recognised the most progressive partnership in all mediums of creativity. The collaboration with Suzaan demonstrates how concrete can be used to create Functional Art – a new category introduced to our YCSA art competition in 2012. PPC YCSA remains one of our core sponsorships, as it provides emerging artists an opportunity to showcase their talents through the medium of concrete and is a promoter of artistic behaviour,” said Nomzamo Khanyile, PPC Group Public Relations Manager.

Adapted from press releases by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/05092013/ppc_women_in_workplace_initiative_awards_south_africa_138/