In the Pipeline: SAISC marketing and events update

Pivoting to remain sustainable

As the SAISC began a new era in our existence last year, we did so determined to bring a fresh energy, spirit and enthusiasm to our role as custodian and champion of the local steel construction sector. Having noted that being solely membership fee-driven was not sustaina 2023 – ble – the team have come up with many other exciting offerings, platforms and opportunities for members to showcase their companies and capabilities – and in so doing, for the SAISC itself to offer more value, and be more financially sustainable moving forward.

SAISC management consultant Denise Sherman tells us more about the new approach to ‘going digital’ and the highlights of the SAISC 2023 events and marketing calendar:

To echo what our CEO Amanuel Gebremeskel has also communicated in this new online newsletter – The Link – the SAISC’s revamped and updated website, Steel Awards projects nominations and other innovations are all aimed at leveraging ‘going digital’ – to the benefit of our members and the industry as a whole. Noting, however, that post-pandemic our members are also extremely keen on in-person / on-site events – as well as online – the SAISC is working on hosting those this year – including the iconic SAISC Steel Awards.

The ‘real deal’ of steel: SAISC Steel Awards

The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) members and the entire steel value chain are invited to participate in the SAISC Steel Awards 2023 – entries opened on 1 April 2023. Along with myriad other networking and training event highlights on SAISC’s annual calendar, the Institute is anticipating dozens of high-quality entries to this year’s Awards. The SAISC Steel Awards 2023 winners will be announced at a specially themed, celebratory gala dinner hosted at Emperor’s Palace in Gauteng in October. The SAISC is seeking high-quality project nominations which showcase pioneering innovation and courage in design. We believe there will no shortage of entrants as there are many excellent projects which need to be showcased through our flagship Awards event.

Digital nominations and knowledge-sharing

The SAISC has prepared guidelines for entries based on previous Steel Awards – and will be hosting a nominator training course to clarify the parameters of a high-quality entry. In the spirit of ‘going digital’ this year, entries – along with project technical information – will then be submitted in a simple online form, on the SAISC Steel Awards 2023 online portal of the Institute’s website, which will be accessible to the public until the August 31 deadline when entries close.

There is a minimum standard of what needs to be submitted directly into the SAISC website project case study platform. As soon as this has been submitted, the nominee can then book a half-hour project case study session, which the Institute will promote as a virtual event.

In addition, people will be able to access those project case studies and their technical information – as they are presented – as online events on the site. Therefore, ahead of the Steel Awards, people will have already seen all the nominated projects and have studied their drawings and technical excellence, rather than just seeing a photograph for the first time on the night of the Awards ceremony.

“We are anticipating at least 50 entries of a high standard – last year there were 70 entries – and that the judges will again have the difficult task of selecting the best of an excellent crop of projects.”

An integrated approach

The SAISC is taking a very integrated approach to the way in which content is presented – and the way in which projects are profiled – so the steel industry and public at large have access to them – both in the run-up to Steel Awards and thereafter online, to learn from these innovative projects and appreciate their true value.

The project case study online events will take place on a weekly basis, from April to August, before final judging in September, giving project entrants an extended period to submit nominations. We are anticipating at least 50 entries of a high standard – last year there were 70 entries – and that the judges will again have the difficult task of selecting the best of an excellent crop of projects. A total of 750 guests attended the Awards in 2022 – and up to 1000 guests are expected to witness the ceremony in October 2023, as enthusiasm for in-person attendance continues to gain momentum across the local steel value chain.

Online and on-site: continuing professional development training

There are also a series of technical question and answer (Q and A) sessions planned from April – as well as training forum events and company-specific courses – which the Institute will present either online or on-site to engineering and construction companies, educating professionals on specific industry topics.

The SAISC’s self-paced online training courses will also be available, and member tours of steel mills and fabrication sites are also in the pipeline. We are also planning exciting and more informal social networking events, including quarterly breakfast meetings and cocktail evening jazz sessions. We look forward to hosting our members – online, or on-site and in-person – at the many SAISC events this year!