Empowerment
Audience Island was established as a trading name for joint business initiative between Sodogha Space4 Projects (100% owned by William Sebothoma) and LKDA (100% owned by Gardiol Lamberts) to with the purpose of promoting black business empowerment to comply with the empowerment and transformation goals of Advertising industry and to further afford the historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs) an opportunity to participate in South African economic landscape.
The organisation is led by William Sebothoma who is the managing member and has wealth of experience and has experience within the marketing and advertising sector. Gardiol Lamberts was introduced the creative world at CPD communications landing a junior position. Within only 2 years he lead the creative team as Head of Creative and developed brands such as PRIDE Soft Drinks, NIMUE Cosmetics, Miss SA and worked on all key CPD accounts such as BMW, TELKOM, and South African Parks Board, and lets not forget, met a dude with long hair called Deon.
In the search for 'bigger and more exciting' challenges he, along with 'dad', headed up GL Interactive, one of the first design agencies in Pretoria to offer unique digital solutions as part of their core services offering. Soon news spread and GL Interactive was commissioned by more advertising consultants and agencies than direct client; and was the creative direction behind SAFCOL, CSIR, NECSA.
The South Africa's social, economic and political environments have paved the way to address challenges and the opportunities that have been presented in our country through the black economic empowerment (BEE) initiatives in order to fight gross inequalities and the distribution of income amongst the citizens. The ave been demonstrated the empowerment charters and DTI BEE code of good practice in most sectors of the economy .
The Advertising industry, believes that our industry should be the creator and custodian of truly outstanding South African advertising and communication ideas, ideas that while proudly proclaiming their African heritage still communicate effectively within the global context. The industry. further, pledges itself to the actualisation of empowerment and transformation goals as determined by prevailing industry needs and dictates in order to achieve meaningful and total involvement of those formerly excluded from the real process. our quest to discharge our responsibility in accordance with the national agenda, shall establish or cause to be established, measures, milestones and monitors to track our joint progress towards the attainment of the ideals embedded in this, our, charter.
The advertising industry's vision- a vibrant industry, that celebrates and exudes unique South Africanness, yet world-class and responsive to a dynamic African and global environment. An empowered industry, that is non-racial, and characterized by its inclusive diversity, which plays a major role in crafting a South African culture and in the celebration of human dignity. An industry with inspired leadership, the highest standard of Corporate Governance and in a proud partnership with marketers.
Education, training and equality
Audience Island is committed to the requirements of the Employment Equity Act, Skills Development Act and the Skills Development Levies Act. Audience Island has developed policy, which has provided the basis for the company's human resources activities and places particular emphasis on educational and training.
Additionally, Audience Island acknowledges and appreciates the diversity of cultures existing in the company and continually seeks to even out historical imbalances to enable all employees to compete on equal terms.
Audience Island views economic empowerment as an integral part of its strategy for further growth and development. As black empowered company we have aimed to achieve capacity building of previously disadvantaged individuals from within organisation.
Highlights of our BEE policy including 7 categories of measurement are:
Ownership
Audience Island is an empowerment partner to LKDA company- the strategic creative advertising agency based in Pretoria. Audience Island has about 60 percent shareholding which means it has a majority of black shareholding. LKDA is owned by Gardiol Lamberts operating for more than five years.
The company, its shareholders and management are committed to broadbased black economic empowerment principles and, subsequent to the finalisation of the shareholding disposal, have finalised discussion with LKDA to establish continued meaningful and lasting empowerment.
For LKDA, this transaction represents our firm commitment to meaningful transformation. It represents the opportunity to grow our business, to service new and growing markets and to harness the full economic power of our diverse society. It will also enable us to attract, develop and retain the best talent in the industry and position the company to become a leading empowered and communication design and advertising agency in South Africa
Management & control
Senior management team consists of 60% black representation.
Target by end-2009 is include add other race groups in order to create balanced mix.
Procurement
We specifically contract with companies rated as Good/Superior Contributors to BEE, bearing in mind supplier businesses needs to be run on sound and sustainable business practices.
We focus on development of SME’s. Audience Island will actively support them and provides financial assistance, training and resources. We believe this is a method of increasing our empowerment supplier base in a meaningful and sustainable manner.
Employment equity
Audience Island intends to employ black staff, Coloured/ Asian staff and white staff. “Staff” refers to all employees including executive management.
Target is 70% black/ colored/ Asian staff in order to create a balanced for all South African citizens to participate in economic opportunity available.
People/skills development
Weacknowledge the involvement of all people in operational, professional and executive decision-making as a crucial aspect of BEE and have a focused skills development program.
We have a stated value relating to people development – “We encourage people to strive for self-development and a culture of learning. We are committed to grow everyone to his or her fullest potential”.
Audience Islandactively participate in a successful SETA Learnership program to employ 50% of the Learners who will work at Audience Island for 1 year.
Corporate Social Investment
Acknowledged as an important component of corporate citizenship.
All CSI spend to go towards specific and intended purposes and not on any administration costs.
Preference given to practical projects with potential involvement within Marketing, Advertising and PR working in close relationship institutions offering these studies.
Future project to offer assistance to community-based business initiatives to promote the development of SMEs through marketing programs and for scholars looking to pursue career in Marketing, Advertising and PR or other reasons.
Job Creation
Active commitment to building capacity and creating opportunities in black communities, both directly and indirectly.
We are committed to assist SME through communications, advertising and marketing campaigns to expose them to their targeted audience since this is the barrier to SME. This will support Government's plan to boost SME as they main growth engine for South African economy. In this case we will partner with National and Provincial initiatives that support SMEs such as SEDA, Umsobomvu Youth Fund, etc,
To employ students employed though learnership program from institutions involved in Marketing, Advertising and PR.
Gender equality: Women participation perspective
Gender represents an untapped source when it comes to stimulating economic growth and promoting social development. This is particularly true in the developing world, where women are often systematically deprived from having equal access to social services as well as to physical and social capital. In fact, increased gender equality promises significant returns. Apart from being an important goal itself, empowering women by improving their living conditions and enabling them to actively participate in the social and economic life of a country may well be the key for long-term sustainable development.
In line with the Department of Trade and Industry's Draft Strategic Framework on Gender and Women Economic Empowerment (2006), its objectives are;
To challenge the direct and indirect barriers in Enterprise, Industry and Trade which prevent women from having equal access to and control over economic resources;
To facilitate women's equal access to economic and productive resources by strengthening their capacity networks as well as their ability to benefit from DTI policies and programs;
To increase women's easy access to finance by assessing existing programs that provide access for women and suggesting improvements to address existing gaps in a sustainable manner ;
To work towards gender parity in all enterprise industry and trade and structures including boards, councils and missions; and
To ensure that the life experience and view of South African women contribute equally to the reform of trade, investment and enterprise development.
Women's representation in the hierarchy of the corporate world rose significantly, according to the Business Women's Association (BWA) audit on South African Women in Corporate Leadership. The annual Nedbank-sponsored audit is aimed at examining the advancement of women in South Africa's major corporate and state-owned enterprises.
It is showed that women made up 42,9% of the working population, but constituted only 19,2% of all executive managers and 13,1% of company directors. The study measured 318 companies, of which 301 are listed on the JSE and 17 are the stated-owned enterprises. Analysis was based on data available to the end of September 2006 and revealed that:
Only 13 women chaired boards in SA companies while eight (8) were chief executives.
State-owned enterprises accommodated more women, with four (4) chairing boards while only nine (9) out of 301 JSE-listed companies were chaired by women.
Women directors in state-owned companies enterprises increased from 31,3% in 2006 to 35,2% but the numbers dropped over the year when it came to executive managers. The number of companies employing 25% or more women in directorships and executive managerial roles increased from 21 in 2006 to 21 in this year.
Ten years ago after our first democratic elections, women now have more freedom and substantial institutional support to actively engage in economic activity and in business. The relative success of our economy since 1994 has also opened up extensive business opportunities for women should seek to fully empower them so that they are able to benefit from our democratic reforms, be it politically, socially or economically. The agency is therefore committed to support women in line with the Department of Trade and Industry's BBBEE code of good practice in order to move out of poverty and contribute economic growth. The agency supports that key policy and program options for women's economic empowerment, viz.: addressing the gender gap in human capital, reducing women's time burdens, providing opportunities and incentives for women's equal employment outside of household and promoting gender responsive budgeting.
