\t\t\t\tProudly South African out-of-home company <\/em>Provantage Media Group<\/em><\/a> is 52% black owned and 39% black female owned \u2013 but it says transformation is about so much more than ownership. <\/em><\/p>\n When leading out-of-home company Provantage Media Group<\/a> (PMG) was awarded a Level 1 B-BBEE rating in 2017<\/a> \u2013 the highest possible rating \u2013 it became one of the largest OOH media companies to have achieved such a rating. It was also one of a small group of enterprise organisations within the marketing and communication sector to qualify as being truly empowered in terms of South African legislation.<\/p>\n PMG has not rested on its laurels, however. The proudly South African company completed an equity transaction whereby it became 52% black-owned and 39% black female-owned and, having renewed its B-BBEE certificate for the third year in a row, it continues to drive meaningful empowerment throughout the organisation \u2013 and beyond.<\/p>\n Tshego Sefolo, CEO of Agile Capital<\/a> and current chairman of PMG, says the company has proved its commitment to empowerment as an ethos, not a mere compliance requirement. Sustainable empowerment is the core of the company\u2019s value and it embraces transformation and the empowerment of others.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we partnered with PMG as a shareholder and partner in 2011, we had a very clear of idea of what it meant to select the right partner,\u201d says Sefolo. \u201cWe were looking for a company seeking meaningful empowerment, not one that wanted to pay lip service to equity. We made the right decision \u2013 PMG is an organisation that truly understands what empowerment is and how it can be leveraged to make a real difference in society.\u201d<\/p>\n In an effort to drive empowerment through targeted initiatives, PMG continues to offer intensive learnership programmes accredited by the Services SETA through the PMG Training Academy<\/a>, which was founded in 2015 by its ProActive™<\/a> division. Graduates who complete the programmes successfully receive an NQF Level 4 FET Certificate. The Academy was established in order to increase the skills level within the out-of-home and activations industry, making is easier for graduates to pursue a career in media, sales, marketing and communications. PMG frequently employs programme graduates within its various divisions, underlying its commitment to broadening empowerment within the workplace.<\/p>\n \u201cFor us, empowerment is not just about ownership structures. It\u2019s about building the right kind of organisation \u2013 one that actively seeks to create jobs and work opportunities for previously disadvantaged people,\u201d says PMG\u2019s deputy CEO, Mzukisi Deliwe. \u201cWe observe that a lot of 100% black-owned media companies are extremely vocal about B-BBEE but focus only on the ownership issue and do very little about changing South African society. It is about committing to developing those sectors of society that require sustained and consistent support. Offering opportunities to a large constituency of black South Africans is what true empowerment is about \u2013 not simply enriching a few people. It\u2019s an integral part of our transformation philosophy.\u201d<\/p>\n The fact that PMG scored a total of 119.12 points on the B-BBEE Scorecard \u2013 more than the 100 points required to qualify for Level 1 status \u2013 is a clear indication of its commitment towards broad-based empowerment. Companies that choose PMG as a preferred supplier can not only rest assured that they are supporting \u2018real\u2019 broad-based empowerment \u2013 they are also entitled to claim – for their own scorecard – R1.35 for every rand spent with the company, due to its procurement recognition level of 135%.<\/p>\n