Nurcha is an innovative construction finance company that supports the national programme to house all South Africans in sustainable human settlements. The organisation offers bridging finance to all contractors and developers with viable projects that support this drive. Nurcha works in partnership with all roleplayers in the construction industry to maximise options in a way that promotes social and economic development.  Emerging contractors, however, are considered to be high risk borrowers and traditional financial institutions are reluctant to get involved in the construction side of the industry. They simply do not have the systems, resources and infrastructure to manage this risk.
Nurcha has programmes to address this deficit. Nurcha does not simply lend money to emerging contractors. Through a unique network of intermediaries it has developed a system of managing the risk while at the same time ensuring sustainability through valuable construction support services and skills transfer initiatives to the emerging contractors. Nurcha would like these entrepreneurs to build their businesses through making good profits from their projects, and to grow into successful, mainly black-owned construction companies.  Role of the intermediaries
The intermediary is effectively an agent/organisation who has been appointed to implement the Nurcha programme in an identified geographical region. Intermediaries are independent operators and are appointed based on their extensive knowledge of the construction industry, supplier network and relationships with all role-players involved in the delivery of subsidy housing, infrastructure and community facilities. The intermediaries’ role in managing the emerging contractor is many faceted. They are required to manage the Nurcha programme as stipulated by Nurcha and its financing partners.
They also provide in-depth construction support services in the form of “hand holding” the contractor through project, financial and supply chain management procedures; introduction to supplier networks; the facilitation of payments by province on milestones reached and any other skills required in the successful construction of housing, infrastructure and community facilities. The system and financial controls are managed jointly between the intermediary and the contractor, who meet regularly to discuss progress and any other issues that might impact on the project.
Alignment of strategies  Nurcha has a unique approach in the way it conducts its business. It manages risk through the establishment of stringently controlled programmes that are legally and technically sound and sustainable. It also lays great emphasis on its social responsibility of empowering individuals to play a meaningful role in society and to reap the economic fruits of the political transition. Nurcha places a high premium on contractor satisfaction with our products and the services provided to them. Nurcha actively monitors relations between the intermediaries and our clients to ensure that these high standards are maintained. Nurcha has therefore initiated an active programme to ensure that the intermediaries are aligned and that they approach and conduct their dealings with contractors in the same way as Nurcha does.
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