Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has once again emerged victorious at the annual PMR.africa awards, earning its 12th consecutive Diamond Arrow Award in the category for Tyre Manufacturers. Continental also received the CSR award for its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The annual awards recognise business excellence and are based on the results of PMR.africa’s annual regional survey of the Eastern Cape. The survey profiles the province as a growth point and potential investment area for foreign and local developers and investors.
The survey also measures companies, institutions, government entities and individuals on their contribution to the economic growth and development of the region, levels of management expertise, implementation of corporate governance, along with innovation, competencies and brand awareness.
“We are delighted to receive our 12th Diamond Arrow Award in a row from PMR.africa, which highlights the important role that Continental Tyre plays within the Eastern Cape economy, and specifically as one of the country’s largest manufacturers of original equipment and aftermarket tyres,” says JJ Dowling, General Manager Manufacturing, Continental Tyre South Africa.
Continental employs over 1 000 people in South Africa and is the only tyre manufacturer in the country that supplies original equipment tyres to all seven local vehicle manufacturers.
“With a proud history spanning 73 years, Continental Tyre remains committed to South Africa, and we strive for excellence through innovation in our manufacturing operations to ensure our products and are world-class, and confirm to Continental’s stringent global standards for quality, safety and performance,” Dowling adds.
“We also focus extensively on ongoing training and skills development for our employees, providing an empowering working environment that creates opportunities for personal and professional growth, while promoting creative thinking to make the business leaner, more efficient and sustainable.”
The PMR.africa CSR award acknowledges CTSA’s commitment to the community, with the emphasis on skills development and creating job opportunities. Continental joined the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme in 2019 to assist unemployed youth with training and skills development for potential employment at its Port Elizabeth plant or within the broader economy. The learners also receive additional life and entrepreneurial skills training within various aspects of business to support their efforts in finding jobs.
In addition to the YES programme, the Continental Tyre SA/BestDrive Learnership Programme was launched in 2019 in collaboration with the SOS Children’s Village House of Youth in Cotswold, Port Elizabeth, to provide empowerment opportunities for the youth.
Through merSETA (Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Authority) the learnership programme is built around the learners completing a National Certificate in Automotive Repair and Maintenance with a focus on Tyre Fitment (NQF Level 2). The programme gives learners valuable insight into Continental’s tyre manufacturing process, followed by theoretical and practical training at the company-owned BestDrive William Moffett store in Port Elizabeth.
Outside of the learnership programmes, Continental Tyre SA responded to the country’s COVID-19 pandemic by supporting the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) Ubuntu COVID-19 Fund, which provides valuable protection and support to frontline staff in Nelson Mandela Bay healthcare facilities.
CTSA contributed R250 000 to the fund, which was used to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) – comprising over 33 000 gowns, masks and gloves – for public hospitals and local clinics throughout Nelson Mandela Bay. Additionally, CTSA donated 100 blankets through the Business Chamber to the Newton Park Methodist Church for homeless people in the metro.