Regulatory Explainers
Sector codes vs the generic codes: which scorecard governs your business?
Construction, ICT, tourism, financial, transport and more — if a designated sector code governs your industry, the generic scorecard doesn't apply.
The Amended Codes of Good Practice are the default scorecard — but they're not the only one. If your industry has a designated sector code, that code replaces the generic scorecard entirely, and its element weightings, targets and even qualifying thresholds can differ sharply.
Codes with their own rulebooks
- Construction — the Construction Sector Code splits into Civil Engineering and General Construction/Built Professional sub-scorecards, each with distinct targets.
- ICT — additional emphasis on skills and empowerment of black participants in the technology value chain.
- Tourism — adjusted weightings reflecting the industry's labour profile, including specific recognition of black women in management.
- Financial — the Financial Sector Code is a standalone Act-aligned framework with its own element structure and access targets.
- Transport, Property, Agriculture and Forestry — each with tailored weightings reflecting the sector's transformation dynamics.
Why choosing the wrong code costs points
Element weightings differ: the same facts scored under the generic codes versus a sector code can produce a different level. Sector codes also define their own priority elements and sub-minimums in some cases, so the penalty rules change too.
Never assume the generic scorecard applies. Identify your controlling sector code first, then assess — not the other way round.
How to confirm yours
Check which sector code your dominant revenue stream falls under, and confirm the version in force for your measurement period — sector codes have been gazetted and amended over the years, and verifying against a superseded version invalidates the exercise.