Sánchez Manzano attributes the firm’s success over the last four decades to the efforts of its professional employees
Sando, the construction group based in Andalusia and one of the leading firms in this sector in the country, this year is commemorating its 40th anniversary since the firm was established. The firm will be organizing a series of talks and conferences, and will also publish a book and edit a video to celebrate this milestone event.
According to the vice-chairman and managing director, Luis Sánchez Manzano, quality, technical know-how, respect for the environment, international expansion, prevention, innovation, commitment and honesty are some of the factors which are the trademark emblems of this firm and have enabled the firm to build a solid business path of success.
After seven years of crisis, which has hit the country badly, especially the construction sector, Sando has kept going in the construction sector, the group´s main business activity, accounting for 60 per cent of its total turnover; international expansion; environmental projects, and urban services.
Sánchez Manzano recalls that Sando started out as a small family firm and from the very beginning based its strategy on diversification, both geographically speaking and business wise. “The firm has continuously invested its profits in its own future, generating wealth and employment. Four decades later, having experienced many difficult times and having had to fight its way through various different periods of crisis, Sando has become one of the leading firms in the sector, thanks to the efforts, dreams and loyalty of its professional employees", affirms the businessman.
The firm, presided over by José Luis Sánchez Domínguez, one of Spain’s leading business men, was founded in 1974. Right now the firm carries out business operations in Poland, Columbia and Morocco in the following five areas of business: construction, the environment, Concessions, materials and supplies and real estate.
In 2005, the firm began international expansion in Europe, setting up operations in Poland, where civil engineering projects and building work is being undertaken for public and private clients. In 2011, the firm expanded its field of operations to Columbia and subsequently Morocco.
The vice-president recalls that the group has maintained and expanded its social objectives throughout the last decade, incorporating policies of social and corporate responsibility into its business plans. Conscious of its responsibility to society as a whole, in 2006 the firm set up the Sando Fundación, a non-profit making body, which has become its main instrument for channelling and transferring commitments to society.
Sánchez Manzano goes on to explain that the group has opted for “innovation and quality” and each year intensifies its efforts to “obtain the highest levels of health and safety in all its places of business".
The invaluable work and efforts Sando has put into prevention have been recognized by independent bodies. In 2001, the firm received the Safe Prize, awarded by the European Commission in recognition of its work within the hygiene and safety at the workplace sector, And in 2009, the General Advisory Body for Industrial Relations and Science at Work, awarded the firm the 2008 Prever Prize for its success commitment to Health and Safety at work. In 2011, the firm obtained the Andalusia Executives prize in the category for Best firm in Prevention of Occupational Hazards.
The firm has an Investigation, Development and Innovation department which is continually growing and is dedicated to the search for technological solutions. The department has investigation facilities set up at its headquarters and at the Adif Centre for Railway Technology in the Andalusia Technology Park, which it has been a part of since it was established. Furthermore, the firm is a co-founder, patron and full member of the Foundation for Technological Corporation in Andalusia; patron of the Habitec Foundation (Technological Centre for Investigation, Technology, Energy and Construction regarding the environment) and collaborates in applied renewable energy projects for buildings. As a member of the National Association of Independent Builders (Anci), the firm maintains a framework of agreements with the Centre for Studies and Experimentation in Public Engineering Work (Cedex) in order to promote investigations relating to construction work.
Moreover, Sando is one of the main shareholders of the firm AT4 Wireless, an international leader in telecommunications within the field of Information and Communication Technology.
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