JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties reported on Monday that its Property Point division had teamed up with South African capital growth property firm Attacq to further its business incubation programme.

Through the agreement, Property Point would manage Attacq’s enterprise development programme, while Attacq would fund an intake to the value of R2.4-million to participate.

“Property Point started in 2008 as an initiative to further Growthpoint’s transformation goals through crucial enterprise development. Even then we knew the initiative had the potential for impact on a much larger scale.

“With a well-established record of proven results and positive impacts, Property Point has become a partner for like-minded industry leaders and organisations. We are delighted to welcome Attacq as Property Point’s first partner,” Growthpoint Properties CEO Norbert Sasse commented.

Attacq CEO Morné Wilken added that collaborating for meaningful transformation in the property sector by growing small business was central to enterprise development.

“This is exactly what we aim to achieve by partnering with Property Point. By using a proven programme that is already delivering excellent results to South Africa’s largest listed property counter, we can have the biggest possible impact in the shortest time, without having to reinvent the wheel,” he noted.

For almost seven years, Property Point had been a catalyst for successful enterprise development in the South African property industry, steadily growing its capacity and delivering results.

So far, 86 businesses had participated in Property Point’s two-year programme, enabling them to generate results – well over the national average – of over R214.4-million in procurement opportunities and report revenue growth of 27.5%.

Property Point’s incubation programme had already made significant strides in enterprise and supplier development, creating 904 jobs while empowering 2 500 people with best business practices. In addition, 43% of programme beneficiaries were, to date, black women owned enterprises and 95% of businesses continued running sustainably after graduating from Property Point.

Property Point and Growthpoint corporate social responsibility head Shawn Theunissen advised that the collaboration with Attacq would boost transformation and enterprise development in the property industry.

“Attacq’s enterprise development investment will have desirable and far-reaching positive impacts not only for everyone directly involved but for the entire sector and South Africa as a whole,” he added.

Further, Wilken explained that Property Point’s model and approach to enterprise development unlocked opportunities that would benefit Attacq and entrepreneurs serving the entire industry too. “We have joined this programme because it creates real supply chain opportunities, ensuring sustainable transformation and job creation. It will help meet our goals and targets for enterprise development and transformation, and enhance our understanding of small businesses in South Africa.”

While Attacq was a relatively young company, it had strong roots in economic and social empowerment and was developing a solid record of driving transformation.

“Transformation is a business imperative for us.

“The benefits of our collaborative effort with Property Point go beyond a matter of mere compliance. With our like-minded partners, we’re helping create an environment where small to medium-sized enterprises strive for excellence and where all businesses on the supply chain [perform] at a higher level. When that happens, we all win,” Wilken concluded.