This is considered a significant achievement in the property industry, which is lagging behind other South African industries in the quest for BEE and transformation.

The AAA rating – the second highest available through Empowerdex – indicates that the company scored between 85 and 100 percent on the agency’s empowerment criteria, which includes black ownership, management and control, employment equity, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise and socio-economic development.

“We are proud of our achievement,” says Kevin Roman, group CEO of Hermans & Roman. “As a wholly black-owned BEE company, empowerment is entrenched in our values and company strategy. The verification from Empowerdex indicates that we are committed to achieving our empowerment goals.”

Hermans & Roman’s AAA score is an improvement on their previous A rating (65 to 75 percent) in 2007. “This shows that we are focused to constantly improve our BEE contribution and that the strategies implemented are successful,” says Roman.

The company has an active BEE approach, which includes the H&R staff trust – its wealth creation vehicle for its employees. Last year, the trust paid out R335 000 to 68 qualifying staff members. Connie Mashiya, employed as a tea lady for the past five years, received a payment three times her monthly salary.

Hermans & Roman has representation at all levels in the organisation.  The company engages in enterprise development and preferential procurement to assist small, micro and medium enterprises.

“We are committed to making a positive economic contribution and a meaningful difference to our staff, the local business community and the broader South African community,” says Roman.

Significantly, Roman says that the rating also makes the company more competitive in the marketplace. “We believe that the rating will help us attract other businesses wishing to enhance their own BEE status through preferential procurement. This rating has a positive effect on the BEE status of our current clients.

“We have our sights set on Empowerdex’s AAA+ rating, the highest available. We consistently strive for excellence and the achievement of that in our BEE contribution is no exception,” says Roman.