Strategic Impact: Turning Compliance into Opportunity
In South Africa, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act encourages businesses to contribute to social and economic development initiatives, requiring companies to spend at least 1% of their net profit after tax on such programmes. While participation is voluntary, aligning with the B-BBEE Scorecard offers businesses a chance to support transformation and economic inclusion.
For years, Insight Actuaries approached this requirement as an obligation, and like most companies, lacked a cohesive strategy to allocate financial year-end funds. The result? Disconnected ad hoc projects with little long-term impact. That’s where In Good We Trust – Business UnUsual stepped in.
Our goal was simple but transformative: to help Insight spend their 1% in a way that not only complied with the B-BBEE framework but also delivered meaningful, sustainable impact for underserved communities.
Our Solution: Building a Strategic Partnership
We proposed a fresh approach – one that moved beyond transactional compliance. Instead of spreading resources across disparate initiatives, we advised Insight to invest in a single, strategic partnership. Enter Moves for Life, a non-profit organisation using chess to teach critical thinking, problem-solving, and life skills to learners in under-resourced communities.
The decision was no accident. Moves for Life’s mission aligned perfectly with Insight’s values of education, leadership, and empowerment, while also meeting the B-BBEE requirement of benefiting at least 75% Black beneficiaries. This wasn’t about ticking boxes; it was about transforming communities.
The First Move: Atlantis Holiday Programme
In September 2024, the partnership launched with a holiday programme at Grosvenor Primary School in Atlantis, Cape Town. Over four days, 104 learners aged 6-17 participated in activities designed to boost confidence, problem-solving, and teamwork.
For Moves for Life, this was an opportunity to expand their reach and demonstrate the power of chess in a new community. Managing Director Amanda Fourie explained:
Chess isn’t just about the game, it’s about unlocking potential and building skills for life.
For Insight Actuaries, the programme aligned perfectly with their mission to foster leadership and resilience. Joint CEO Barry Childs reflected:
This initiative reflects who we are as a company. It’s about equipping the next generation to lead and succeed.
The Benefits: More Than Compliance
This partnership proved that compliance can deliver far more than a scorecard metric. It created ripple effects across multiple stakeholders:
For Atlantis:
Learners gained critical thinking skills, and educators received training, laying the groundwork for future success.
For Insight Actuaries:
The initiative reinforced their reputation as a purpose-driven business while fulfilling their B-BBEE obligations sustainably.
For Moves for Life:
The support enabled them to expand their reach and refine their programmes for long-term scalability.
Looking Ahead
The Atlantis programme was just the beginning. Plans for 2025 include year-round learning centres in Cape Town and Johannesburg, expanded holiday programmes, and deeper community engagement. This partnership is set to grow, creating opportunities for learners and delivering sustainable change.
In Good We Trust – Business UnUsual
This partnership embodies what we stand for at In Good We Trust – Business UnUsual: turning obligations into opportunities and building partnerships that transform lives. By helping Insight Actuaries align their B-BBEE contributions with their values, we proved that strategy, sustainability, and impact can go hand in hand.