Bosch Holdings Enginuity April 2015 | Page 15

15 Bosch sponsors F1 in schools DGC - Top Gear Challenge As a company who support women empowerment, Bosch were delighted to sponsor the 1st and only all-girls’ team to enter the 2014 F1 in Schools Technology Challenge in KwaZulu-Natal. The 5 member team, College Ignition, from Durban Girls College were tasked with the following: Bosch Holdings appoints Sid Turner as Business Development Director • to design, analyse, manufacture, test and race a Formula1 car of the future; • develop a team brand; • to create a business plan and budget in order to raise sponsorship for the process. According to the F1 in Schools organisers, “The challenge inspires students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership / teamwork, media skills and financial strategy, and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way.” This historically, stereotypically male-driven competition was an opportunity for both Bosch and the College Ignition team to promote women engineering. After many months of hard work and determination, the team designed and built an F1 car that came in as the 2nd fastest car in the competition! The competing teams then had the added opportunity to display their stands and F1 cars at the Top Gear Festival held in Durban. Bosch Holdings’ Chief Executive, Mike Gibbon, firmly believes that a focused initiative will be necessary to accelerate growth, both in new business and into new geographic areas. Accordingly, Sid Turner has been appointed Bosch Holdings’ Business Development Director and tasked with: • Creating an enabling business environment to support Bosch’s operating companies in meeting their growth objectives; • Promoting the growth of existing operating companies into new geographic regions in South Africa, Africa and Brazil; F1 Team photo. • Targeting specific clients and mega project opportunities from a collective Bosch Holdings perspective and supporting Bosch Holdings synergy and branding; and • Identifying and developing aligned new niche business opportunities. Sid, who assumed the position on 1st March 2014, has over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry, more than 20 of which have been at a senior executive level with Bosch. He is excited about the prospect and says “I see this as an opportunity to make a contribution to the continued success of Bosch Holdings, as we extend our national foot