Turner & Townsend : Transforming Africa Together

TRANSFORMING AFRICA TOGETHER

Founded in 1946 as a quantity surveying company in the UK, Turner & Townsend has grown to become a market leader in independent programme, project, and cost and commercial management over the last 75+ years.

Turner & Townsend took the first step in its global expansion by opening an office in Johannesburg, South Africa over 40 years ago. A significant milestone in the company’s journey, this investment provided the catalyst for its growth in Africa.

Its regional office footprint now stretches into the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East Africa, and West Africa, combining to create a robust network of 13 offices across 11 countries in Africa. Coupled with an equally robust portfolio of over 2,000 projects across the continent, this resonates with its clients and showcases Turner & Townsend’s depth and diversity of expertise.

In 2021, Turner & Townsend entered into a strategic global partnership with CBRE, cementing the company’s position as a world leader in project and programme delivery. The global team has since grown to more than 20,000 people operating from 61 countries, making Turner & Townsend the international market leader in independent programme, project, and cost and commercial management.

This global reach supports an essential combination of local knowledge, industry expertise, and global best practices.

“We are able to bridge the gap that some other consultants might struggle with as we know how to operate to international standards whilst also understanding each region’s nuances,” opens Wendy Cerutti, Head of Real Estate in Africa.

The Energy and Natural Resources division likewise possesses a blend of global and regional clients that underpin opportunities, allowing it to serve clients across the continent.

Turner & Townsend’s Infrastructure division, meanwhile, focuses on projects in the transport (aviation, roads, rail, ports), water, and utilities sectors, amongst others, managing over USD$2 trillion worth of infrastructure projects globally.

“Our scale provides confidence to developers and clients that we are able to service large programmes across the continent,” emphasises Vivien Naidoo, Head of Infrastructure in Africa.

“We are able to bridge the gap that some other consultants might struggle with as we know how to operate to international standards whilst also understanding each region’s nuances”

Wendy Cerutti, Head of Real Estate in Africa, Turner & Townsend

COMBINING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND GLOBAL INSIGHT

Turner & Townsend’s work in Africa is guided by a global purpose to transform performance for a green, inclusive, and productive world. This is underpinned by a clear vision and a set of core values: integrity, collaboration, excellence, and challenge.

At the heart of the company’s local mission is a pan-African mandate that is only achieved by effectively utilising a blend of international practices and local expertise, enabling Turner & Townsend to overcome challenges unique to the continent.

“We see Africa’s geographic, segment, and service diversity as a big part of our growth ambition. Although markets and economies in Africa vary, the more diversity we can develop, the greater the resilience and strength of our business,” reflects Dennis Nolan, Head of Energy and Natural Resources in Africa.

Another regional capability is Turner & Townsend’s ability to optimise global value and supply chains, granting it the expertise to deliver world-class standards for regional projects with local clients.

“Our global footprint allows us to provide an end-to-end service for our clients across the programme and project lifecycle, particularly as more clients are requiring support in the development stages of a project to take on the de-risk of their investments,” Naidoo explains.

As such, the Africa regional offices can uniquely blend their worldwide expertise with local knowledge to bring international entities together and drive a project forward in the African market.

Turner & Townsend also prioritises regional knowledge bases and local strategies and skillsets, which has allowed the Energy and Natural Resources division in particular to be a catalyst for business establishments across Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Guinea, and many other African nations.

“Having the ability to take a global solution and regionalise it to make it practical for a local application – taking into account specific circumstances, skills, and the supply chain – is critical to us,” Nolan affirms.

“Our experience around the globe gives us the ability to deliver a programme of any scale, anywhere in the world, thanks to a combination of our global expertise, mobility, and local presence”

Dennis Nolan, Head of Energy and Natural Resources in Africa, Turner & Townsend

RESPONDING TO GEOGRAPHICAL CHALLENGES

The strength of Turner & Townsend’s pan-African footprint is demonstrated through supporting the Rack Centre development project – one of the largest data centre developments in West Africa and a key venture for the Real Estate division.

The project leveraged the best talent across multiple African nations and facilitated effective skills transfer to the company’s local offices, providing significant benefits for the client and enhancing project execution.

“Leveraging the reach of our African footprint was necessary because we needed to overcome various logistical and operational difficulties, such as land and ownership issues and challenges with the local currency,” Cerutti recalls.

“As such, a lot of our expertise in South Africa was required in West Africa in order to drive the project forward in its initial phases. By the time the local workforce delivered the project, we had a really strong team on site, and watching that skillset develop during that period was exciting.”

Leveraging talent from multiple locations enabled the Real Estate division to respond more effectively to the project’s challenges, whilst also improving stakeholder management and unlocking efficiencies through connections outside of the project area.

“In the last couple of years, we’ve seen what we can do when we use local teams alongside some of our best-in-class subject matter experts (SMEs) in other regions,” she affirms.

The Rack Centre development project also represents innovations in power generation, as its energy supply was supported by a gas turbine system. This solution-focused approach addresses the industry-wide challenge regarding shortage of stable power sources.

ENERGISING THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Turner & Townsend, particularly the Energy and Natural Resources division, strives to address power generation challenges permeating across Africa through proactively navigating the continent’s energy transition journey, and it is committed to efficiently delivering key projects that underpin this energy transition.

“Key elements for the energy transition, in addition to the transition from conventional to renewable energy sources, are energy security and supply and making them affordable and available for everybody,” Nolan insights.

This is achieved by building Africa’s green energy capacity and upgrading the transmission and distribution networks, which ultimately foster the right conditions to successfully transition from conventional fossil fuels to clean energy sources.

Examples of recent engagements illustrate how the Energy and Natural Resources division has been working towards this goal. This includes providing technical advisory services to CoCT for its Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), programme advisory services to South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation on its ambitious Hydrogen Society Roadmap, and contract services to various confidential power stations.

“We are able to develop strategy, set up projects for success, and support project delivery to drive the desired outcomes for our clients – that’s at the heart of what we do,” Nolan asserts.

SUPPORTING CLIENTS WITH GREEN POWER AMBITIONS

In line with its core commitment to a low carbon economy transition across Africa, Turner & Townsend is proud of supporting many of its clients’ sustainability goals.

The projects the company is involved in often involve the integration of cutting-edge power solutions, including the extensive use of solar energy and other environmentally friendly techniques.

With the massive energy demands required to operate data centres, this is particularly relevant to Turner & Townsend’s data centre clients.

Elsewhere, Turner & Townsend is at the helm of the move towards hydrogen power.

In fact, it has enhanced how the South African government engages with stakeholders in the hydrogen value chain, holding a primary role in how low-emission hydrogen initiatives are implemented and participating in trade missions between South Africa and the UK, alongside many other government bodies.

Furthermore, Turner & Townsend has enabled clear accountability across various programmes thanks to effective and transparent governance and reporting. Its target operating model, in particular, addresses key management issues and develops comprehensive governance.

Turner & Townsend additionally assists its clients in adopting hydrogen power and analyses how best to integrate alternative fuels into their strategy, taking advantage of its global reach to best support its clients’ project completion.

“We’ve been asking what the future holds in this space and bringing these considerations to our clients’ projects from the initial concept design stages.

“As we are integrated across our clients’ ecosystems, we can introduce leading technologies and challenge their thinking at the early stages, ensuring they can futureproof their business,” Naidoo states.

“We use our knowledge of project delivery, out-turn costs, and programme and project risks to advise clients with real-world and pragmatic guidance around capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational spending”

Vivien Naidoo, Head of Infrastructure in Africa, Turner & Townsend

STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE

Turner & Townsend’s strategy in Africa will cement its ability to transform client projects in the future.

Central to ambitions on the continent is the extension of its pan-African footprint and further geographical expansion. Indeed, Turner & Townsend strives to establish more opportunities across the continent, with North Africa and West Africa in particular being attractive markets.

Turner & Townsend firmly believes that people are at the heart of its success and will continue to make investments in local talent and leadership. Developing and retaining talent, skills, and capability is key to enabling a truly pan-African footprint.

Another key focus area is the delivery of major projects and programmes across its Energy and Natural Resources, Real Estate, and Infrastructure divisions.

Turner & Townsend is able to leverage its experience, data-led insights, and digital innovation to shape the strategic set-up of operations from the outset, applying proven methodologies to execute projects with precision using its ‘Transforming Performance’ approach.

“We use our knowledge of project delivery, out-turn costs, and programme and project risks to advise clients with real-world and pragmatic guidance around capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational spending,” Naidoo informs.

Combined with global best practices, Turner & Townsend’s ‘Transforming Performance’ approach enables clients to deliver complex, sustainable, and high-performing projects in an ever-evolving market. Through its programme advisory offering, the company also ensures that clients’ projects are investible and set up for long-term success and resilience.

Finally, Turner & Townsend wishes to continue the upward trajectory of its project management consultancy (PMC) services. It’s a delivery model with a difference, whereby Turner & Townsend undertakes design assurance, construction management, procurement, and more with seamless integration and offers clients a world-class alternative to traditional end-to-end services.

“We’re reducing our clients’ risk by going into the project space and managing it on their behalf, moving beyond industry standard delivery models and finding a solution that works for them,” Cerutti concludes.

With this steadfast vision in place, Turner & Townsend continues to work with its clients to turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success across Africa’s most impactful projects.

TURNER & TOWNSEND’S RECENT PROJECTS – AT A GLANCE

East Africa

• Tetra Pak, Kenya: Involves the installation of solar photovoltaics (PVs) on the company’s 4,913-square-metre (sqm) facility rooftop, serving 22 percent of the factory’s electricity demand. Turner & Townsend worked with Tetra Pak’s local and international teams as well as Nairobi-based contractors to deliver the project in June 2024.
• Nexus Green Limited, Uganda: Comprises the installation of solar power for over 250 irrigation systems used by a network of both large and small commercial farms, helping support communities’ food security. In addition, Nexus Green Limited is utilising solar power to pump/supply water for 300 communities, thereby reducing the operational costs of the systems and subsequently the water tariffs, lowering walking distances to water points, and improving the health conditions of the beneficiary communities. Turner & Townsend worked as the Cost and Commercial Manager, fully integrated with the main contractor to implement the project.
• Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP), Kenya: As Africa’s largest windfarm comprising 365 wind turbines with a 17 percent contribution of reliable, low-cost energy to the Kenyan national grid, Turner & Townsend supported the development through project and cost management processes and procedures to improve project delivery.
• Pearl Marina Estates, Uganda: Part of Pearl Marina Development, the mixed-use development comprises residential, recreational, social, and retail facilities in Garuga, offering panoramic views of Lake Victoria. Turner & Townsend was commissioned to provide cost management services for the construction of state-of-the-art buildings and residences, ensuring the project was delivered on time, to a high standard, and within budget.
• Norrsken House Kigali, Rwanda: The third installation of Norrsken Foundation’s global network, the state-of-the-art ‘house’ is located at the centre of Rwanda’s capital. Turner & Townsend was commissioned to deliver project and cost management services for the installation of solar PVs, a clay-shaded façade, natural ventilation systems, and the incorporation of an innovative sustainable cooling system, which will reduce energy demands.
• Google, Kenya: Turner & Townsend’s local team supported Google with the fit out of its new office and product development centre in Nairobi, making it a celebration of Kenya’s culture with local and innovative interior design.

West Africa

• Rack Centre, Nigeria: Involving a range of stakeholders, Turner & Townsend leveraged its global footprint to transfer the necessary skills and talent to the project’s local offices. The integration of diverse perspectives and expertise meant that the business could maintain consistency in its delivery whilst optimising performance and outcomes. Turner & Townsend provided cost and commercial management and project management services.
• Snake Island Terminal, Nigeria: The container terminal is a world-class maritime infrastructure within the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone in Lagos. The project will be preceded by enabling works which will involve site mobilisation and preparation, upgrades to the demarcation fence, site clearing, maritime works, building demolitions including underground services, powerline relocation, as well as addressing other obstacles on the ground. Turner & Townsend is delivering project and cost management services.

South Africa

• Hydrogen Society Roadmap: Turner & Townsend enhances how the South African government participates and engages with the hydrogen value chain, implementing low-emission hydrogen initiatives and enabling clear accountabilities across various programmes. The company is delivering programme strategy and set up services.
• V&A Waterfront, Cape Town: Turner & Townsend continues to play a pivotal role in the development of Granger Bay at V&A Waterfront – an iconic, world-class mixed-use development and symbol of heritage and diversity in South Africa’s capital city.

City of Cape Town (CoCT) frameworks

• 185C: In association with Pegasys Global Consulting, Turner & Townsend has been supporting the CoCT 185C framework that will enhance the city’s facilities and services. The company has been providing advisory, project, programme, portfolio, and contract management services on an as-needed basis.
• 42S: Turner & Townsend is proud to be the leading multidisciplinary team supporting the CoCT in the planning, project management, and implementation of informal economy projects over a three-year period. These initiatives aim to drive economic inclusion, sustainable infrastructure development, and integrated planning through multi-stakeholder engagement.

Southern African Development Community

• Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe: Involves the construction of the bank’s new headquarters, which will cater for 400 staff members and place sustainability and employee well-being at the core of the company’s operations. The creation of the head office will enable Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe to also consolidate its administrative dedications and will be the first building in the country to combine Green Star and International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) certifications. Turner & Townsend is providing cost and commercial management and project management services.
• Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), Botswana: Offering project management and quantity surveying services, Turner & Townsend was involved in a 6,000 sqm main building development project that comprised the construction of the ground floor, first floor, and second floor, as well as two reception buildings and a guardhouse. Key to the project was the services design of both physical and electronic security installations.