The Metropolitan Oliver Empowerment Awards, which recognises champions of empowerment in the public and private sectors, has put Bytes Technology Group, a principal subsidiary of the JSE-listed Altron Group and part-owned by Kagiso Strategic Investments, at the top of the list in the ICT sector.
Bytes is a federation of leading ICT companies that operates predominantly in South Africa, but with operations in several other African countries and the United Kingdom.
“These 10th annual Metropolitan Oliver Empowerment Awards represent the nexus of empowerment recognition in South Africa,” says Rob Abraham, CEO of Bytes Technology Group. “We are honoured to receive the award as top ICT empowerment company from this prestigious panel supported by hosts Impumelelo.”
Last year, Bytes Technology Group was also recognised by Empowerdex as one of the most empowered office automation businesses in South Africa when the business improved its rating from Level 3 to Level 2. It did so two years ahead of its stated schedule of 2012.
Bytes Technology Group made several key investments in black empowerment to improve its scoring, including skills development, learnerships, social economic development, enterprise development, and preferential procurement.
“Supporting our communities is a top priority for us,” says Abraham. “We started establishing black empowered companies as far back as 1999 and we continue to give priority to small black and black women-owned businesses.”
Thembelani Nxesi, Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, handed over the awards on 23 March at Sandton Convention Centre. The Olivers are hosted every year by Impumelelo, a pioneering publication dedicated to black business success, and organised by Topco Media in partnership with headline sponsor Metropolitan, the leading life assurer and investment solutions provider.
Also noted in the ICT sector were Accenture South Africa, Dimension Data, EOH, Westcon SA, and CHM Vuwani Computer Solutions.
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