A multi-disciplinary engineering and science consultancy giant at the forefront of change

GIBB, one of the largest multi-disciplinary engineering and science consultancies in Africa, has been closely involved with both private and public sector infrastructure development for more than 53 years.

GIBB has been involved in the SADC (South African Development Community), East African, and West African Regions since the late 1940’s. Outside of the 14 offices in South Africa, the Group maintains local offices in Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland and Tanzania with separate companies established in a number of these countries. Through this extensive office network with close to 1000 people in the Group, as well as associations and long term relationships with local and international companies, GIBB is able to ensure top level expertise is incorporated into the timely and efficient completion of projects throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

As a company, with its roots steadfastly imbedded in the soil of Africa, they have embraced the transformation objectives of the continent by becoming the leaders in the sector. GIBB was the first in the sector to create a broad-based black economic empowerment scheme for its employees where 67% of the ownership rests in the hands of black employees, all of which are offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme. Of the large company’s in the sector, GIBB has the highest empowerment rating and presently rated as a Level Three on Affirmative Action (AA) contributions. With ownership in the hands of the employees, the company has more than doubled in size over a period of three years and has grown its profits fivefold.

GIBB’s South African operations have spearheaded the progressive drive for the expansion and development of all their operations. They have expert staff in every major city in the country, with specialist services offered at each one of those branches. African dynamism is evident in their engineers and scientists, who plan, design and develop solutions which ultimately benefit Africa’s people by overcoming challenges imposed by nature.

At present GIBB has been instrumental in a number of high profile infrastructure projects in South Africa in the wake of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. These projects are not solely committed to the World Cup but have driven many of the necessary contributions required for the growth of South Africa’s economy.

The projects include the Green Point Stadium and all the associated infrastructure related to the new high tech stadium. GIBB is part of the electrical, structural, transportation and civil engineering Joint Venture (JV). The project, which is valued at about R4.4 billion, is scheduled for completion in early 2010.

GIBB is also Eskom’s principal member of the consortium responsible for the design and supervision of the Ingula pumped storage scheme in the Drakensberg Region, valued at about R18 billion. The project began in September 2004 and is scheduled for completion in 2013. Also, GIBB’s specialist engineers have worked closely on the multiphase upgrading of the runways and taxiways improvement project at the OR Tambo International Airport, valued at over R500 million.

GIBB has explored opportunities outside of South Africa for many years now, not only for expansion opportunities, but also for more enduring and challenging projects. Their quality of work and their steadfast ability to develop and deliver projects on time and within budget will always contribute positively to the growth and sustainability that is needed in Africa today.

GIBB was intrinsically involved in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, one of the most ambitious multipurpose water schemes in the world, since its inception back in the late 1980s. With a then project value of over $1.5 billion, GIBB takes great pride in the sustainability the project has brought to the entire region. Further west in Angola, GIBB was appointed to provide a full design of a 16-storey building for AAA in Luanda. The project cost was in excess of R275 million and construction is ongoing.

GIBB’s Corporate Social Investment initiatives are a vital part of their values, founded on their commitment to invest in the future growth of the African continent. At GIBB there is an unwavering desire to assist the youth in their educational requirements, both on a secondary and tertiary level by directing these learners towards engineering and scientific related fields of expertise. Their robust approach to social investment also complements GIBB’s progressive Empowerment Charter, which ensures that transformation is embraced in the overall strategy of the company. In the last financial year the company spent on skills development initiatives was well over R3.75 million.