JSE-listed real estate investment trust Attacq has achieved a Level 1 contributor status in respect of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) for the first time in its history.

According to South African National Accreditation System-accredited BBBEE verification agency Renaissance SA Ratings, the group showed improved metrics across most elements of the scorecard.

Specifically, in the key areas of ownership (26 points), enterprise and supplier development (38.18 points) and skills development (18.39 points), Attacq surpassed prior scores in being awarded its Level 1 accreditation for the period July 1, 2021 to June 30 this year.

“Achieving this milestone talks foremost to our purpose, which is to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. This means that when we talk about transformation as a business, we talk about transforming our society, empowering our tenants and suppliers and growing our partner network with emerging black businesses.

“This achievement is a reflection of our commitment to diversity and inclusion and underscores our ambition of driving growth and transformation in the South African economy,” says CEO Jackie van Niekerk.

“Achieving the improved BBBEE level is demonstrative of the progress the group has made against its strategic objectives, which include contributing meaningfully to our communities through transformation, with an emphasis on procurement,” Attacq says.

The group explains that, along with the weighting to procurement, Attacq’s focused corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy ensures that its various CSR investments contribute to its BBBEE goals, through specific meaningful and impactful initiatives.

Improving employment equity levels was also identified as a strategic key performance indicator to measure the business, and management, against its employment equity plan, and the group says it continues to make good progress in this regard.