Linking budding entrepreneurs with green building leaders at the 2016 Green Building Convention, Property Point is enhancing green innovation in South Africa while providing SMEs with an opportunity to further develop their own businesses. Property Point, a Growthpoint Properties initiative, has seen over 100 businesses participate in its two-year programme, which is aimed at generating procurement opportunities for SMEs as well as boosting their ability to create jobs.

To date, the programme has generated over R451 million in procurement opportunities for participants, who have reported a remarkable revenue growth of up to 54.5%.

“Growthpoint, armed with South Africa’s largest portfolio of green rated buildings, has fully committed itself to both preserving the environment and developing small enterprises. To this end, Property Point will be sponsoring two green small businesses to attend and exhibit at the Green Building Council South Africa’s (GBCSA) annual convention next week,” says Shawn Theunissen, Head of CSR at Growthpoint Properties and Head of Property Point.

“Green building in South African property has grown exponentially, and as a result we have seen the demand for eco-friendly, resource-efficient development, management and maintenance of buildings in the industry increase too. This in turn provides numerous opportunities for innovative small businesses to make their mark on the property industry.”

This year’s GBCSA Convention, themed ‘Build a better world NOW’ will be held from 26 to 28 July 2016, in Sandton Central. Property Point has sponsored both Kopano Ke Lesedi Construction and Imbewenhle Trading to attend, and the budding entrepreneurs are expected to gain greater insight into their industries and the procurement opportunities available. Based in Marshall Street, Johannesburg, Kopano Ke Lesedi Construction & Projects has been providing plumbing, landscaping and maintenance services for the past three years.

Managing Director Linah Mogale started the business with the aim of creating employment as well as providing a sustainable solutions service to the industry. With three full-time staff members under her employment, Mogale believes innovation is the key to operating a successful business.

“I would recommend the Property Point programme as it helps entrepreneurs to refine our ideas and prevent mistakes being made, while guiding us to think strategically and outside the box,” Mogale says, adding that her involvement with Property Point has helped her to position Kopano Ke Lesedi Construction & Projects strategically as well as plan for its future growth.

Joining Mogale is Trueman Myeza, Managing Director for KwaZulu Natal based Imbewenhle Trading. Boasting 100% black youth ownership, Imbewenhle is an air-conditioning and refrigeration company with combined experience of more than 10 years in the field.

The company’s name, which means “the good seed” in English, is indicative of the positive impact they hope to make in the business environment. Imbewenhle offer services for both industrial and commercial air-conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation systems.

“Property Point’s main purpose it to identify these dynamic entrepreneurs and work with them in order to build sustainable businesses. In today’s climate, sustainable businesses need to take the environment into account, making their businesses sustainable in more ways than one. However, finding real procurement opportunities can often prove challenging for them, and so by giving entrepreneurs like Linah and Trueman access to decision makers who are looking for sustainable solutions from sustainable businesses, we give them a greater chance to realise their full potential,” Theunissen concludes.

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