Regulator the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) has, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), developed the Certificate in Construction Management (CCM) as its flagship industry qualification to strengthen contractor and construction professional development.

The programme is designed to equip emerging and developing contractors, as well as construction professionals, with the practical knowledge and skills required to manage projects effectively and build sustainable construction businesses.

“The cidb Certificate in Construction Management is a flagship contractor development programme that will equip emerging and developing contractors with the practical management skills required to deliver quality infrastructure, grow sustainable businesses and participate more meaningfully in South Africa's infrastructure economy,” says cidb CEO Bongani Dladla.

“By investing in contractor capability, we are investing in the future of our country's infrastructure delivery.”

As part of the initial phase of the national roll-out, the cidb has launched the CCM for contractors in the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

The cidb aims to expand the programme across all provinces to ensure contractors throughout South Africa have access to a nationally recognised qualification that strengthens their technical and business capabilities, he says.

The CCM represents a strategic investment in the future of South Africa's construction industry, says UJ Department of Construction and Management Quantity Surveying Professor Clinton Aigbavboa.

“This programme is about developing capable construction professionals and sustainable businesses that will strengthen infrastructure delivery and contribute to the country's long-term economic growth,” says Aigbavboa, who also serves as a cidb Centre of Excellence director.

“Partnerships between academic institutions and industry are essential to developing the next generation of construction leaders. Through our partnership with the cidb, we are combining academic excellence with practical industry knowledge to ensure contractors gain relevant, applicable skills that improve project delivery and business performance.

“As this flagship programme expands across the country, it has the potential to transform individual businesses and the benefits communities derive from quality infrastructure and the economic opportunities this creates.”

Infrastructure is one of the most powerful drivers of South Africa's development and the construction industry is at the heart of delivering it. Through the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, water infrastructure and other public assets, the industry enables government to expand access to essential services, stimulate economic activity and improve the quality of life for communities, says Dladla.

The successful delivery of infrastructure depends on contractors and construction professionals who possess not only technical expertise, but also the business, financial and leadership capabilities needed to manage projects efficiently and sustainably, he says.