Aveng Group

About Aveng

Aveng is a South African engineering and construction group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Its roots go back to the late nineteenth century. Over the decades, the group grew by joining well-known firms such as Grinaker, LTA, Moolmans and McConnell Dowell. At one stage Aveng built roads, bridges, rail, buildings and mining infrastructure across Southern Africa.

Since 2017, however, the group has been restructured. It sold many non-core businesses, including the Grinaker-LTA building and civil engineering business, which went to the Laula Consortium in 2019. Today Aveng presents itself as an engineering-led contractor working through three brands. McConnell Dowell handles infrastructure and construction work, mainly in Australasia and Asia. Built Environs focuses on building projects. Moolmans provides contract mining services.

These businesses employ civil and mechanical engineers, mining engineers, surveyors, planners and commercial specialists. Open-cut mining, for example, relies on large fleets of equipment and skilled people to keep them running. That mix of fieldwork and technical planning explains why the group has traditionally looked to engineering graduates.

How Aveng has supported students

Aveng has long said that it wants to build engineering skills and, to a lesser extent, management and commercial skills. In earlier published bursary calls, it funded South African citizens studying for degrees or diplomas in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. Process control and instrumentation engineering and human resources management also appeared on those lists. Those awards were for one academic year at a time.

The bursary came with a work condition. Successful students signed a contract that ran for the training period, and placement afterwards depended on a suitable vacancy. In other words, a bursary did not guarantee a job. It did, however, give students a link to a large employer and a clear route to apply for graduate roles.

What to know before applying

Aveng's business has changed a great deal since those earlier bursary calls, and we could not confirm a current open programme. Therefore, treat the details above as background rather than as a promise. Intakes, fields of study and closing dates are not confirmed for the coming year.

The best approach is to check the careers and bursary sections of the official Aveng website. You can also follow the group's announcements on its pages and social media. If a call opens, expect to supply certified copies of your ID and academic results, proof of registration or acceptance, and a completed application form.

In the meantime, students who want a career in construction or mining can look at other funders in those industries. Compare their fields, work-back terms and deadlines. Strong marks in mathematics and physical science help in almost every engineering application, so keep those results high while you wait for a new call.