ADvTECH Group History

2010

ADvTECH acquired The Design School Southern Africa, a leading institution in design education.

Mr Brian Buckham, who founded the Group in 1978 and served as Executive Chairman for some 15 years and as a director for 23 years in total, announced his retirement from the Board. Mr Buckham was responsible for the originating vision which resulted in the creation of ADvTECH and led the Group in many of the strategic investments which form its core today.

Mr Michael Sacks stepped down from the Board, having served as acting non-executive Chairman since his retirement as Chairman in December 2007.

The Board announced the appointment of Mr Leslie Maasdorp as Chairman of the Group with effect from 1 September 2010.

ADvTECH featured in the winners list of the Financial Mail’s Top Companies for the third consecutive year. The Group ranked 16th in the Business Times’ Top 100 Companies and was listed as one of The Royals in this survey for qualifying in the top 20 over the most recent three consecutive years. ADvTECH, for the fifth consecutive year, qualified for inclusion in the JSE Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index.

2009

ADvTECH acquired Forbes Lever Baker (FLB), a specialised tertiary institution in advanced financial and accounting education.

The Group was ranked 16th in the Financial Mail’s Top Companies and 11th in the Business Times’ Top 100 Companies.

2008

ADvTECH acquired Trinityhouse, as well as the following recruitment businesses: IT Edge, Tech-Pro Personnel and The Working Earth.

ADvTECH was ranked 15th in the Financial Mail’s Top Companies and 16th in the Business Times Top 100 companies.

ADvTECH acquired Trinityhouse, as well as the following recruitment businesses: IT Edge, Tech-Pro Personnel and The Working Earth.

2007

ADvTECH acquired the National College of Photography which was incorporated into Vega.

2006

The Academic Advisory Council was established to advise the Board, Senate and The Independent Institute of Education (IIE) on all academic matters.

Vertex South Africa, a specialised advertising response handling business, was acquired and incorporated into Kapele (Pty) Ltd as Vertex-Kapele.

2005

Inkokheli HR Appointments, a niche brand specialising in the recruitment and placement of human resource professionals, was launched.

2004

The IIE was created to improve the Group’s academic leadership and governance.

2003

Two Imagination Labs commenced operations.

CrawfordSchools™ became the first educational institution in South Africa to be awarded the internationally prestigious Investors-in-People award.

2002

Frank Thompson, formerly Deputy Chairman of Amalgamated Appliances, was appointed CEO of the Group.
Kapele Appointments (Pty) Ltd was formed.

2000

A home grown recruitment brand, Insource.ICT, was formed to focus on staffing solutions in the information and communications technology industry.

1999

ADvTECH entered the nursery schools market with the purchase of 18 pre-primary schools.
The second home grown education brand, Vega, was launched.

The Resourcing division was expanded through the acquisition of Cassel & Company and Brent Personnel.

1998

ADvTECH was the top performer in the Electronics sector of the JSE and featured in the Forbes Global Business and Finance magazine as one of the Top 300 small companies globally.

1997

The acquisition of Abbotts College and CrawfordSchoolsTM formed the basis of the schools offering within the Group.

College Campus, the Group’s first home grown tertiary brand, was launched.

ADvTECH acquired Communicate Personnel and Network Recruitment, which was the start of the successful Resourcing division.
Trinityhouse was founded in Randpark Ridge.

Tech-Pro Personnel was established.
 

1996

Rosebank College was acquired.

ADvTECH was the top performing company on the JSE.

1995

The Group acquired Innovative Management Development (IMD) College and Global School of Business which were incorporated into Rosebank College and Varsity College respectively.

1993

Crawford Schools™ commenced operations with a campus in Killarney.

1991

Varsity College was launched in Durban to provide tuition support to 17 part-time Unisa students.

Corporate College International was founded.

1990

The Design School Southern Africa was formed.

1989

Cassel & Company was established.

IMD College was formed.

1987

Advanced Technical Systems (now ADvTECH) was listed in the Electronics sector of the JSE.

Network Recruitment was formed.

1986

Vertex South Africa was established

1982

Communicate Personnel commenced operations.

1978

Brian Buckham founded the company which was then known as Advanced Systems Incorporated.

Brent Personnel was launched.

1971

Abbotts College first opened its doors.

1948

Rosebank College was established.

1909

Imperial Underwood Campus, which was incorporated under Rosebank College, commenced operations.