Locally-based inspection company provides Africa expertise

There seems to be no stopping the growth of the Global Inspections Group. Having doubled its turnover in the first half of 2009, the company is making strides in its goal to become a truly international player and a recognised brand name, says Stefan Sakoschek, executive group chairman. A Frenchman who has been living in South Africa since 1994, Sakoschek recognised a market opportunity to establish an inspection company in the country. “There were only a handful of big players and they were all European based,” says Sakoschek. “We decided to set up shop in South Africa with our head office in Johannesburg replicating the same business model and utilising the same set of skills, but offering a better service to South Africa and Africa, being based here.” In May 2001 the company, specialising in inspectionrelated activities, was officially launched and has been growing ever since. With only five inspectors, the early years saw the company immediately spreading its wings from South Africa into Africa. “Today we have 250 inspectors and operate across Africa. We are, however, still on a growth path,” says Sakoschek. With its major client base comprising big trading houses, banks and financial institutions and international aid organisations, it has recently signed a large government contract, something on which the company has been working for years. “We are now the authorised service providers to the Kenyan Bureau of Standards. It was very important for us to pick up on government contracts as it places us on a par with our competitors.” For Sakoschek this is just the beginning. “We want to be an international player that is recognised across the world and that is what we are working towards.”