The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) is calling on companies in the Metals and Engineering (M&E) sector to submit their entries for the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence before the 4 May 2021 deadline.

Now in their seventh year, the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence provide an opportunity for companies in the M&E sector to showcase their levels of innovation. The Awards also highlight that companies in the sector are able to respond effectively to key policies and national imperatives such as the environment, transformation and health and safety without compromising their sustainability.

The Awards will celebrate companies that excel in the following categories:

• Most Innovative Company of Year;

• Health and Safety Award of the Year;

• Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programme of the Year;

• Customer Service Award of the Year;

• Environmental Stewardship of the Year;

• Most Transformed Company of the Year; and

• The Artisan Award of the Year.

SEIFSA CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba noted that the Awards were about more than just giving out trophies: “The Awards were founded to showcase innovation and excellence in an industry that is crucial to the economy – it is an important supplier to the mining, automotive and construction sectors – but whose strategic role is sometimes under-appreciated.

“We need to shine the spotlight on companies on the M&E sector and celebrate those that have been thriving despite the challenges they face, including rising costs, reduced demand and cheap imports, among other reasons,” he said.

Mr Nyatsumba said that by celebrating these companies, the Awards create examples that other companies can emulate, helping to strengthen the sector by encouraging the creation of resilient companies that pride themselves in doing business the right way.

The Awards ceremony will take place at a COVID-19-compliant event on 20 May 2021 in Johannesburg.