Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal recently launched its Best Practice initiative.  If you were unable to attend one of our regional AGM's or the launch of our new corporate identity on 21 May 2009, this in-depth article will give you a complete overview on the Best Practice model, the reasoning behind the concept and information on the implementation process.

As always we welcome your comments and feedback.  At the end of the article, you will find a link to a thread on our new online forum, where you can post your questions, comments and suggestions.

With a few exceptions, it is inherent in the nature of business to look for new opportunities to grow and add to what already exists. In boom times, this is a way of increasing profitability by expanding operations. In lean times, new opportunities may mean survival when traditional business is simply not enough.

Generally new opportunities become apparent just by looking at existing activities or endeavours in a new way. Occasionally, genuinely new activities or endeavours manifest, and the proactive and adaptable will be the first to harness the opportunities that come with novelty.

This week we introduce a new service to promote Members of Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal.

The 'News and Information' section of our website now has a Member News tab and will shortly have a facility where Members can submit a newsworthy article for consideration.  What does this mean to you?

We have allocated a lot of resources to make our new website world class.  As a result, we are already seeing a large number of visits to the website and forums on a daily basis.  Our online marketing strategy ensures that a large percentage of these visitors are targeted i.e. they land on a page on our website because they are looking for something specifically related to the Building and Construction Industry.  The visitors including your clients/prospects, as well as iindustry stakeholders and you will now be able to reach them directly by submitting a news article for submission on our website.

In order to ensure fairness, as well as compliance with our editorial and online policies and goals, the following stipulations will apply to any article submitted:

1. Submission of an article does not guarantee publication
2. Space is limited for Member News articles
3. Articles submitted by Members who are Contractors, need to focus either on a significant company milestone, or on a project which is unique and/or of interest to the public.
4. Articles submitted by Members who are Suppliers of goods or services to the Building and Construction Industry need to focus either on a significant company milestone, or on a new product, service or innovation that would be of particular benefit to Contractors and/or the public.
5. Direct Advertising is not allowed
6. Articles should be between 500 and 1000 words and may be edited
7. At least one picture should accompany any article which is submitted.  Pictures should ideally be JPEG's and if possible, both a high resolution and a low resolution version should be submitted.
8. There is at this stage no cost for the publication of articles submitted
9. The stipulations above may change from time to time.  If there is a change, it will be published on the website.

The first article has already been submitted and was published.  The article was on the new Blackburn Pedestrian Bridge over the N2 near Umhlanga, which will significantly improve the safety of the local community.  The project will be completed by JT Ross (see below).

If you would like to submit an article for consideration, please contact Ernest or Gary on 031 266 7070 for now.  We will shortly be introducing a form on the 'News and Information' page, where you will be able to submit articles and photos directly.

Gary Amstutz | Commercial and Online Manager

A new cable-stayed pedestrian bridge is to be built across the N2, just north of Gateway Shopping Centre, formalizing the existing link of the settlement of Blackburn Village to the Umhlanga New Town Precinct.