Company: Keegor
Company Description: Founded in 1959, Keegor Group is a family-owned, third-generation manufacturer of equipment and consumables for precious metals mining analysis and production based in Benoni, South Africa. United by a common purpose to create excellence and empowerment, the 68-strong ‘Keegor family’ has been given 70% ownership of the operational company. Keegor Group is a market leader across six continents.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Manufacturing - Large
 Nomination Title: Keegor
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since 1 January 2021, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 190 words used.
Established in 2016, Keegor SA is one of five businesses which together form the 64-year old Keegor Group. Based in Benoni, Johannesburg, South Africa, we focus on mining equipment for the precious metals, assaying, refining and smelting industries in the South African market.
The Keegor Group vision is to inspire sustainable growth, brand loyalty and employee engagement to thrive. Run by the same family for three generations, our leaders set out on a mission to transform from family business to market leader while remaining true to our family values.
Passionate about giving back and empowering our 68-strong staff and community, Keegor Group’s employees, affectionately referred to as the extended ‘Keegor family’, have been granted 70% ownership of the operational company.
Keegor SA is now a top performer within the world-renowned Keegor brand with employee engagement +20% above the South Africa benchmark. Having more than doubled our number of clients since 2018 (75 to 175) we now account for 44% of clients in the whole Keegor Group (175 of 400), 67% of group-wide turnover in 2022 and we are forecast to achieve an outstanding 36% of overall net profit in 2023.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
The roll-out of the world’s biggest manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, SYSPRO, has been exceptional, improving labour and capacity efficiencies in pace with our significant growth, with on-time delivery transformed from 29% to 93%.
We also addressed efficiencies in production processes, outsourcing smaller activities such as machining. This has enabled Keegor SA to invest and design ground-breaking innovations, positioning us ahead of our Chinese and Indian competitors, and working towards net-zero carbon emissions.
Growing rapidly from a small family operation to market leader, health and safety performance was crucial. We recruited a new health and safety manager, rolled out new processes, and changed controls. These improvements led to Group Chief Operations Officer (and head of Health and Safety), Marno Jacobs, winning recognition at the SEIFSA Excellence Awards 2022.
BRAND LOYALTY
Michelle Austin, Group Financial Director, has stood out as a driving force for change in the male-dominated mining, manufacturing and engineering industries in SA. Michelle is regularly asked to appear in the press, TV, podcasts and speaker events, winning awards and inspiring women and young people as a Keegor brand ambassador.
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
With Covid-19 and economic uncertainty driving higher staff turnover (largely due to retirement) our team has committed to leadership training programmes focused on goal-setting and performance measurement.
The result? Employee engagement boosted from 25% to 58%, +20.9% above the South African benchmark, sales per employee increased dramatically by 111% and recruitment from wider in the industry has led to greater diversity.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
Our dedication and persistence as a Keegor family has enabled sustainable growth, brand loyalty and employee engagement to thrive: from the roll out of a new ERP system, to strategic changes, to health and safety, investing in leadership training, and workforce diversity. Thanks to this stellar performance, our workforce have received dividends payments for only the second time.
This is even more remarkable when viewed in stark contrast to the challenges faced in South Africa: Unemployment in July 2022 at 33.9%; rising inflation and interest rates; riots and strikes; load shedding due to an ageing infrastructure; and mining and manufacturing two of the worst performing sectors in the South African economy.
As a team we have risen to these challenges. With a net profit forecast of R3.7M, and 44% of Keegor Group clients, we expect to achieve an outstanding 36% of overall Group profit in 2023, winning high-profile awards and attracting exceptional stakeholder feedback: “It is clear from my interactions with you guys that Keegor is a top notch company and I will do business with you again” Willem Stolz, Plant Manager, Stibium.
Individually, Michelle Austin, Group Financial Director stands out as the only woman on the board at a leading South African business in the male-dominated industries of Mining, Manufacturing and Engineering, winning awards for leadership impact and entrepreneurial spirit. As Eugene Botha, Managing Director, Erasmus Botha confirms: “In a fast-paced rapidly-growing group Michelle ensures fiscal discipline without cutting the creative energy within Keegor.”
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 252 words used.
Evidence includes testimonials, images, press coverage, awards, business results and website links to demonstrate the claims we’ve made in our entry.
AIMS - A United Vision
These slides outline our vision to empower sustainable growth, brand loyalty and employee engagement. The structure of our family-owned, third-generation business and solid family values have enabled our 64-year old Keegor brand to become world-renowned across six continents.
ACHIEVEMENTS - From Family Business To Market Leader
Demonstrating how our leadership and entrepreneurial spirit has driven improvements in three core areas to make Keegor SA top performer in the Keegor Group:
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Sustainable growth - transforming accounting, manufacturing and distribution operations with dramatic impact on the bottom line.
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Brand loyalty - developing brand-building and media relations for Keegor and beyond, with Michelle Austin as a prominent entrepreneurial mentor.
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Employee engagement - commitment to leadership training has boosted employee engagement from 25% to 58%, +20.9% above the South African benchmark.
IMPACT AND EVIDENCE - Empowering Entrepreneurs Of The Future
Keegor SA: These slides showcase our exceptional service 175 clients and the manufacturing sector in South Africa, winning awards for Workplace Health and Safety and recognition as an outstanding Entrepreneurial Manufacturing business at the Titan Awards 2023.
Spotlight on Michelle Austin: At an individual level, Michelle Austin stands out as a representative of the Keegor brand and prominent female business leader and entrepreneur in South Africa, winning awards, including Forty Under 40 Africa Awards (Manufacturing) for her unstoppable passion and energy in empowering young people and women in business.
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