At ECS we care about the development of our employees, as well as supporting the community in which we are situated where possible.

All social responsibility initiatives involve our staff, who suggest charities or causes to support, and who also make personal donations towards them. The company then contributes to the total that is donated, often delivering the funds raised through a personal visit to the recipient.
Thus far ECS has made donations to the Highway Safety and Security Initiative (HSSI), St Mary's Hospital, Voluntary Emergency Medical Assistance (VEMA), East Coast Radio's Toy Story, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the 1000 Hills Community Helpers. After our first visit to 1000 Hills Community Helpers in 2009, we were touched and hugely impressed by the work done there. At the time of handing over the donation, there was joking about the need for a cow to provide milk. This planted a seed, and ECS determined to provide both a cow and a stable for the Centre. Primrose the cow took residence in 2010, and we were happy to see her in her new home when we visited in July.

In addition to this, ECS has sponsored KTM Off-road and Enduro motorcycle riders for 7 years. During that time, many successes were achieved by the riders - many of whom have gone on to professional careers. In 2008 a number of young (under 13) riders were included, some of whom have achieved national awards and all of whom have benefited from the financial support to develop their abilities and careers.

TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN RESOURCES FOR INDUSTRY PROGRAMME (THRIP)

THRIP is a partnership programme managed by the NRF and the DTI which challenges companies to match government funding for innovative research and development in South Africa. The objectives and priorities of THRIP are to ensure that the projects not only result in competitive world class technologies, but the growth and development of our nation as all the projects funded by THRIP must also include human resources development.

ECS is proud to have been engaged in partnership with the Durban University of Technology to implement THRIP projects for three years. ECS is intent on improving the transfer of technology knowledge in South Africa and thereby contributing to the development of the country. Involvement in this project has boosted ECS's R&D capability and has contributed to staff development.

ECS IS A CARBON NEUTRAL COMPANY

ECS acknowledges that climate change poses a significant challenge to humanity. We provide innovative products and solutions to our customers for energy and associated emissions reductions and operational improvements. Our customers not only reduce their emissions - they also sustainably improve their financial performance and operational excellence. We have helped our large industrial and mining customers consistently reduce their specific carbon emissions by 8% - 15% over the last 8 years. ECS is contributing significantly to reducing the effects of climate change through our innovative offers - but is this enough?

Dr Mark Rawlins, Managing Director, explains:
"Helping our customers sustainably reduce their carbon footprint is not enough. At ECS, we acknowledge that during the course of our business operations we contribute to global emissions through the fuel used in our company land and air travel; the electricity consumed at our offices and data centres; the paper we use; and the waste we produce. We have therefore taken the steps of measuring the carbon footprint of our own operations and have committed to reducing their effects - proving that we are serious about living to the promise we make to our customers. We are therefore proud to be among the first companies in South Africa to be accredited as Carbon Neutral for our operations."

Saving the carbon you can and offsetting the rest provides a further license to operate. For ECS this is no different from the other licenses we have to operate i.e. our quality assurance, health and safety and socio-economic development and employment equity programmes. Even though ECS has its own specialist team of certified energy managers and measurement and verification professionals, our carbon footprint has been validated by Cleaner Climate an independent carbon specialist.

ISO CERTIFICATION

ECS was proud to receive its ISO 9001:2000 certification in 2006, and was recertified for ISO 9001:2008 in 2009. Trained staff members are responsible for overseeing the company's quality management processes. Management processes that deliver our products and services consistently meet the requirements of ISO 9001 standards.
We are committed to regular reviewing of our quality management system and keeping abreast of the latest technology in our field.

CERTIFIED ENERGY MANAGERS (CEM)

The Certified Energy Manager is regarded as the Gold Standard in the energy industry and is the most recognized and respected certification in energy management.
Individuals granted to use this designation by the Association of Energy Engineers have distinguished themselves as having earned the highest level of competency in energy. ECS currently has 4 CEMs.

CERTIFIED MEASUREMENT AND VERIFICATION PROFESSIONALS (CMVP)

The Association of Energy Engineers, in cooperation with the Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO), has established the Certified Measurement and Verification Professional program with the dual purpose of recognizing the most qualified professionals in this growing area of the energy industry, and raising the overall professional standards within the measurement and verification field. ECS's Director Dr Mark Rawlins holds this qualification.

ECS has had Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Verification Certification since 2008. We are currently rated as a Level 2 Contributor in the Enterprise Category: Qualifying Small Enterprise.