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iX Engineers – an Enterprise Development success story

Company News Monday, September 19, 2016: WorleyParsons

An active participant in the transformation of South Africa, project delivery and engineering consultancy WorleyParsons RSA has demonstrated that Enterprise Development can be successful, as attested to by the creation of iX Engineers (Pty) Ltd, a 53% black-owned consulting engineering company focusing on the public infrastructure sector.

iX Engineers has been established following the incorporation of WorleyParsons’ Public Infrastructure (PI) business with Black Jills Engineers, who was among the first participating companies in WorleyParsons’ Enterprise Development programme. Effective from 1 October 2016, iX Engineers will provide professional services for the design, development and through-life-support of public infrastructure, including roads, dams, water supply, water treatment, wastewater, power transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Current Managing Director of Black Jills Engineers Lebo Leshabane will take up the role of CEO of iX Engineers with 53% equity held by black employees of which 35% of these shares are black women owned. The balance is held by senior management from WorleyParsons’ existing PI business who will be moving over to iX Engineers.

“WorleyParsons takes Enterprise Development seriously and we are committed to building sustainable businesses. We saw an opportunity to grow Black Jills Engineers and simultaneously transform our PI business into a majority black-owned independent organisation,” says Denver Dreyer, CEO of WorleyParsons RSA. “iX Engineers has been created in the spirit of transformation and we are confident that they are set up for success. Our PI business is a going concern, with nearly 300 employees, offices in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Upington, and a valued client base. However, the business model is fit for purpose for the PI sector, unlike the bulk of our business which is not suited to compete in this particular market sector.

“WorleyParsons remains firmly committed to South Africa and will continue to focus on power, hydrocarbons, mining, chemicals and resource infrastructure projects. We will maintain a close working relationship with iX Engineers who will be our partner of choice when we require services in the PI arena. iX Engineers will also work closely with Advisian, WorleyParsons’ strategic advisory arm,” says Dreyer.

He adds that all of WorleyParsons’ PI projects will be transferred to iX Engineers, ensuring that the company starts with a full order book. “Where projects are not ceded to iX, we will continue to stand behind our customers and will subcontract to iX as they build their own project pipeline going forward.

“This is a success story not only for Enterprise Development, but also for the employees who now have a stakehold in one of the largest majority black-owned consulting engineering companies in the public infrastructure space,” concludes Dreyer.

CAPTION - From left to right
Ashley September – iX Director (standing)
Lebo Leshabane – iX Managing Director (sitting)
Denver Dreyer – CEO – WorleyParsons RSA (sitting)
Hans Karemaker – iX Director (standing)