Johannesburg, 20 Jun 2017
For Stortech, the past seven years have seen enormous growth for the company. It has transitioned from a small IT business into a serious player in the systems integrator space, and is fast developing a reputation as a systems aggregator in areas like digital transformation.
According to CEO, Chris Volschenk, the company is quick to acknowledge that with such growth comes increased responsibilities. To this end, he says, StorTech has improved its BBBEE ratings and is more closely focused on helping to develop future generations through learnerships and SDI projects aimed at the youth.
"StorTech strives to ensure that our activities make a positive contribution to education enrichment and community development. The focus of StorTech's spend is on increasing access to technology, broadening technical horizons and increasing potential employment opportunities for the youth of today," states Volschenk.
"The company believes it is critical to empower the youth of today through educational assistance, thereby bringing the future leaders of our country one step closer to achieving their goals. Stortech therefore undertakes a number of socio-economic development (SED) initiatives."
He points out that StorTech's most recent skills development and SED spend went to three deserving organisations, namely Midrand High School, Yenzani, a residential child and youth care centre in Midrand providing a home for abused, abandoned and neglected children, and Botshabelo, a children's home that houses orphaned and vulnerable children. The latter also operates a Teacher Training programme.
"These organisations were recipients of laptops, tablets and educational vouchers, ensuring that they have the best possible support and access to technology. In this way, we can help enable their children to reach their goals and fulfil their dreams.
"StorTech has also invested in learnership programmes focused on giving students exposure and experience to real workplace situations, as well as mentorship from highly trained individuals in their respective fields. These programmes have been successful enough that a number of deserving learners have since been absorbed into organisation, and can start forging careers for themselves."
Another area where the company focuses on 'giving back' is through the empowerment of SMEs. This, says Volschenk, is driven through free professional services and over-the-shoulder training and development. He adds that StorTech also provides practical assistance by offering preferential payment terms to these entities. By settling invoices within 15 days, the company enables SME suppliers to sidestep one of the greatest challenges facing small businesses: cash flow issues.
"However, the thing we are most proud of is that in the past few years, we have managed to improve our BBBEE contributor status from a Level 4 to that of a Level 1. Considering we are operating under the stricter ICT codes, we believe this is indeed a feather in our cap and is reflective of StorTech's dedication and commitment to transformation. The company, thanks to new shareholders, is currently more than 53% black-owned and greater than 33% black female-owned. There is no doubt this makes us a leader in empowerment in the ICT industry.
"For us though, it is about more than mere compliance. We aim to be the best in every element of the codes, through constant analysis, target-setting and accountability across the board. I believe this bears testimony to StorTech's commitment to the South African market and the company's goal of ensuring a business-ready environment that will make a difference in the lives of the people, as well as the economy, of SA," he concludes.
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