SAISC CEO Amanuel Gebremeskel explains that the SAISC has gone digital: from our first edition of The Link Newsletter, to a new digital nomination process for the SAISC Steel Awards 2023, which will give the industry a chance to study nominated projects online for the first time before the winners are announced in October.
As the longstanding custodian and champion of the steel value chain, the SAISC is gearing up for a year packed with events focused on continuing professional development (CPD) training and an array of digital marketing and networking opportunities. This also includes our flagship event – the iconic annual Steel Awards – in October 2023.
In addition to a stellar events and educational / training calendar this year targeting our members and the entire steel supply chain including engineers and architects, project managers, quantity surveyors and others – we are also engaged in many initiatives which leverage and embrace digital technology for the benefit of you, our valued members!
Online newsletter distributed to over 4 000 industry members
This first online edition of our SAISC newsletter The Link has been sent to over 4 000 members of our own and other industry bodies with which we have reciprocity. It is appropriately named The Link as it represents a communications and information link between the SAISC and our members – as well as a link between members themselves. This newsletter is cladding-themed, featuring cladding-related members Global Roofing Solutions, Macsteel and Bolt and Engineering; as well events and opportunities we will be presenting this year. As such, the online newsletter is just one way in which we are embracing the digital era to support the entire steel value chain.
In this newsletter – with handy emailed highlights, featuring a ‘read more’ link to the full version of each article and the whole newsletter on our website – you will find industry news, useful information and knowledge-sharing about quality, industry standards and solutions to steel value chain challenges; as well as profiles and updates from our members.
As we move through various industry-relevant themes in the other two editions planned for the year, we trust that more members will participate in this newsletter, and gain valuable marketing leverage as their articles are shared with thousands of readers in this new digital format and via our website and social media channels. This will also help to support the financial sustainability of the SAISC as we seek to advance the interests of our members.
Get involved!
As you are aware, the SAISC is the custodian of quality, technical standards and knowledge within the steel value chain, and you our valued members – form an integral part of this pool of professional skills and learning.
The SAISC and its sub-associations have been directly involved in assisting the SA Bureau of Standards to formu- late specifications for the industry, including updating standards on designing for seismic areas. This topic came into focus recently after deadly earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, causing mass destruction to buildings and infrastructure – largely due to non-compliance and outdated standards.
As the SAISC we invite members to actively engage and get involved with us, so that when there are opportunities to share professional knowledge, by way of offering online or on-site training sessions, expertise and experience, you can participate or attend and gain continuous professional development points (CPD).
‘Steeling’ yourselves for the Steel Awards!
Lastly, but of course, not least, look out for our upcoming networking and training events in this newsletter, and watch this space for everything you need to know about entering, and attending the SAISC Steel Awards 2023. Planning is already underway, entries opened on the 1 April, and you will be able to enter via a simple online process which will also – very cleverly – digitise the entire nominations, selections and judging process – as well as allowing this to be effectively digitally curated and accessible to all our members moving forward.
“I encourage as many members as possible to participate in the awards, to showcase the many excellent steel projects we have undertaken across the region over the past 12 months. We had 700 guests attending in 2022, and we anticipate that this year’s event will be even bigger and better, giving us all a chance to network while we toast and celebrate the best of steel value chain excellence.”
Until next time, I wish you a successful second quarter of 2023, as we all work diligently to continue the next chapter of post pandemic recovery, despite the challenges of the current national energy crisis.
Yours in steel Amanuel
THE LINK NEWSLETTER
To access the entire content of the first edition of THE LINK NEWSLETTER, please CLICK HERE.
