Johannesburg - Ten thriving small businesses have graduated from the two-year enterprise development incubation programme offered by Property Point - a Growthpoint initiative.

These companies, which all offer skills and services for the property industry, are: BLK Construction owned by Kabelo and Khomtjo Mopai; Clear Path Projects owned by Xolisile Nkosi; Creative Axis Architects owned by Anil Parshotam and Bhavik Ranchod; Good Future Painting owned by Irene Thembo; Integrico owned by Lettie Ngobeni; Lady T Protection Services owned by Thando Baloyi; Makasela Air owned by Thiyani Khoza; Nopa Cleaning & Projects owned by Pamela Nyingwa and Nokhwezi Booi; SKS Business Solutions owned by Siphiwe Zwane; and Thatego Holdings owned by Thabo and Dorcas Malefetse.

Their success was celebrated the graduation ceremony held in Sandton Central where Estienne de Klerk, MD of Growthpoint Properties, commended the entrepreneurs’ hard work, determination and perseverance, and congratulated the companies on graduating from the intense Property Point incubation programme.

He pointed out that Growthpoint itself is no stranger to starting out small.

In 2001, Growthpoint had nine properties worth R100m and a market capitalisation of R30m in 2001. Today, 15 years later, Growthpoint is the largest South African primary listed REIT and a JSE ALSI Top 40 Index company.

“From the outset, we appreciated the property industry’s impact goes beyond bricks and mortar. It also effects communities and those living in them. When looking for ways to work with small businesses, create jobs, drive transformation and influence sustainability, we initially struggled to find the skillsets we needed. This is why Property Point was established,” said De Klerk.

Since its inception in 2008, Property Point has made significant impact by creating financial capital of R429m worth of contracts accessed by its beneficiary companies. Of this money in the bank accounts of small businesses, R171m came from Growthpoint’s own procurement, with the remaining R258m of contracts competed for and won in the open market. Two years after engaging with Property Point, beneficiaries companies are reporting a 76% average annual growth rate in turnover.

The 114 Property Point beneficiary companies so far have directly created 1 208 sustainable fulltime jobs.