SERR Synergy

ABOUT US

SERR Synergy provides local and international businesses, both big and small, and across a broad spectrum of industries, with the tools and skills to meet South Africa’s legislative requirements.

Our professional and qualified employees enable you to focus on your core business by assisting you to make sense of the country’s stringent laws, and ensure that your business policies and practices are aligned accordingly.

Established in 2014, SERR Synergy operates throughout South Africa and focuses on compliance with the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes of Good Practice; the new Companies Act, including the Consumer Protection Act, the National Credit Act, the Protection of Personal Information Act and the Electronic Communications Act; skills development and employment equity; and labour relations issues pertaining to both business and domestic employees.

Our overall aim is to assist you in developing your business to operate both legally and sustainably, and so take advantage of South Africa’s unique economic landscape.

SERVICES

Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE or BEE)

Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) or BEE is a reality and a business imperative. With the implementation of the amended BEE Codes and black economic empowerment scorecard, BEE has entered a new phase of diversity, requirements, dimensions and facets and is not limited to ownership and management considerations as some individuals may believe.

Companies that have failed until now to react need to do so very soon or face the gloomy prospect of not being in business within a relatively short period of time.

Do you know your A-Z of BEE Legislation?

You don’t have to become a BEE expert as we are industry leaders when it comes to the strategies and processes associated with a BEE rating certificate. The challenge in understanding the complexity of the how, who, when and what of a BEE accreditation agency and the black economic empowerment scorecard is the main cause of concern and perceived risk for many owners of large corporates, family businesses, small and medium-sized businesses and professional practitioners.

As industry leaders our variety of black ownership structures and solutions differentiate us from the rest. We are not just another BEE rating agency.

The BEE Scorecard Elements

• Ownership: measures black ownership of the entity.
• Management:  measures participation of black people in the Board and management control structure.
• Skills Development: measures skills development spend on black employees and unemployed individuals, as well learnerships, apprenticeships/ internships and SETA-accredited training programmes.
• Enterprise and Supplier Development: measures procurement spend from empowering suppliers, together with Supplier Development and Enterprise Development contributions to beneficiary entities that are at least 51% black owned, in respect of their development, sustainability, financial and operational liberation.
• Socio-Economic Development: measures contributions for socio-economic development. *Please note that these comprised seven elements on the old BEE scorecard.

In the amended Codes there is greater emphasis on majority black ownership, particularly in relation to the sub-element of Procurement as well as Enterprise and Supplier Development.

Our value-adding BEE service

All services and legal work relating to the implementation of your customised BEE strategy are included in our fees.

The following is included:

• Issuing of a SANAS accredited BEE verification certificate by an accredited verification agent.
• Developing of strategies and compiling of a strategic report to enhance BEE levels.
• Setting up BEE ownership structures i.e. trusts, employee- or broad based programmes, community beneficiaries, programmes etc.
• All agreements relating to such structures, i.e. shareholder agreements, subscription agreements, etc.
• All BEE joint venture, partnership and association agreements.
• All amendments in this regard as required by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission of South Africa (CIPC).
• All resolutions and special resolutions to give effect to the above.
• Access to unique Empowerment Development structures for purposes of Enterprise, Supplier and Social Development.
• Continuous professional consultation and advice.

Why choose SERR Synergy as your BEE service provider?

Our leadership team has been involved with black economic empowerment (BEE) in South Africa since 2004. Our comprehensive BEE services include tailor-made solutions that meet existing BEE challenges by implementing effective and value adding strategies. We follow a systematic approach to BEE by categorising our services into several phases:

First Phase

• Gathering of customer information
• Preliminary BEE scorecard assessment as per the BEE rating certificate elements
• Preparation for BEE scorecard verification
• Drafting of a provisional BEE strategy to enhance BEE scorecard levels for our customer

Second Phase

• BEE verification by a SANAS accredited BEE verification agency when required
• Managing all aspects of the BEE rating certificate and verification process
• Dealing with all queries pertaining to the verification process
• Acceptance of a final BEE strategy from our customer
• If more than one BEE rating certificate is required additional verification fees will be incurred
• EME categories only – will exclude all cost relating to legal representation and restructuring.

Third Phase

• Implementation of the BEE Strategy and provision of mandates, with feedback and evaluation reports to our client on a regular basis

Skills Development & Employment Equity

Both skills development and employment equity are imperative for businesses to comply with Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE or BEE) scorecard requirements.

Skills Development in South Africa has become a strategic priority for businesses that wish to attain or retain an acceptable BEE level and also meet the requirements of the Skills Development Act. With the revised BEE scorecard, companies can earn maximum skills development points if they spend he required 3% or 6% of their annual payroll on skills development programmes such as SETA-accredited training initiatives (depending on the business category). The Skills Development Levy (SDL) is payable by employers in different sectors of the economy and serves to fund learning and skills development programmes for socially and economically marginalised groups in South Africa.

At SERR Synergy we will advise businesses in this regard and provide a Skills Development Facilitator service that assists businesses in claiming back portions of the Skills Development Levies already paid to SARS.

Our value-adding Skills Development service

(*also included in the STANDARD training product option)

In order to create synergy between the Skills Development Act, the Employment Equity Act and the BEE Codes, SERR Synergy will on behalf of the client:

• ensure that your business is registered with the relevant SETA.
• act as Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) for your business.
• complete and submit an annual Workplace Skills Plan and Pivotal Plan.
• complete and submit quarterly reports.
• claim annually from your industry-specific SETA.
• introduce accredited training programmes for the business to be presented by accredited training providers.
• introduce skills development programmes such as learnerships and youth subsidies.
• draft an Employment Equity Plan.
• submit annual Employment Equity reports.

SETA Accredited Training & Learnerships

SERR Synergy has compiled a very unique, affordable training product whereby businesses can benefit from skills development programmes and accredited training within their organisation.

Employee Training and Development Services

SERR Synergy has combined mandatory and non-mandatory employee training into one comprehensive training and development product.

Various statutory regulations determine mandatory or compulsory employee training in the areas of:

• First Aid
• Fire-fighting
• Occupational Health and Safety, and more.

Our 12-month, industry-specific and generic learnership programmes are specifically designed for businesses that wish to qualify for additional learnership tax rebates and SETA funding, as well as those that wish to maximise their BEE points and qualify for additional bonus points. These skills development programmes have proved to optimise SDL refunds, increase profit and cash flow, and ensure a more productive and motivated workforce.

Labour Pro for Businesses

What is Labour Pro?

Labour Pro is an integrated labour relations programme for businesses. We guide and assist businesses in a practical and supportive way with regard to the required processes and procedures to ensure labour legislation compliance and to minimise the risk to which the business is exposed when employing staff.

Our experienced labour relations consultants deal comprehensively on your behalf with the relevant labour legislation and most common pitfalls that businesses encounter.

With the new national minimum wage envisaged by our government, businesses will have to ensure that employment policies and procedures are sound as some employees and unions might see this as an opportunity to exploit the situation. Employers that fail to comply with the necessary legislation risk getting caught up in unnecessary legal action and disputes.

PAIA & POPI Act

Access to information and the protection of certain types of information in South Africa are mainly regulated by the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI).

Every business and organisation, irrespective of their nature, have in their possession certain information that must be protected in their own interest, which includes but is not limited to:

• Business trade secrets
• Personal information of other entities or individuals, such as employees, clients, customers, etc.

Failure to comply with this legislation (information compliance) could have far-reaching criminal and civil implications for the organisation’s head and directors. Businesses are compelled by law to compile, submit and streamline certain documents on a regular basis.