Page 11 - JCCI Business Focus 2.3

ten YeArs of bIG IMPACts

he year 2018 marks a was consulting to Investec. needs were access to funding,
decade of impact for Growthpoint, which was then markets and mentors, and Working with small
TProperty Point, which has managed by Investec Property simply getting insight into the businesses can be high risk.
been a driver of transformation Group, required help with industry. They didn’t know how
and small business growth within their enterprise development to break corporate procurement
the property industry over the efforts. Theunissen’s masters’ barriers to create sustainable If a business is small and
ten years since it was founded by thesis became the basis for opportunities. black-owned, the perception of
Growthpoint Properties in 2008. Growthpoint’s enterprise and Property Point was developed
supplier development strategy,
To date, Property Point has and ultimately Property Point. to close that gap and its goals risk can be even higher.
created 2066 full-time jobs and extended beyond growing
R865.6 million in procurement In Denmark, Theunissen small businesses to creating an - Shawn Theunissen
opportunities generated for the focused on user-driven environment that enables more
130 SMEs that have participated innovation and concept opportunities for small business.
in its two-year incubation making, which surmises However, in developing its sustainable businesses that are able Replaying his personal journey,
programmes. These small that in order to innovate and programme, Theunissen realised to grow, create jobs and contribute Theunissen says, “Property Point
businesses have reported 43% disrupt you need to understand that barriers also existed at positively to the economy, over is something that I am passionate
growth in revenue. your user and your context. the past decade Property Point about and proud of. As a father
This global thinking about the psychological level and he has become a leading partnership
In April this year, Property innovation, married with the started exploring the notion of of four children, I always regard
Point celebrated its largest class local context in South Africa unconscious biases. “Working platform for both public and private Property Point as my fifth child.
of graduates so far. Twenty- and with Theunissen’s own with small businesses can be participation in small business It is very rewarding to have put
one thriving small businesses passion for developing people high risk. If a business is small development for the property sector. pen to paper and, ten years down
graduated from its robust two- and businesses was combined and black-owned, the perception Property Point has enjoyed the line, see how it has bloomed
year incubation programme. to apply drive to an economic of risk can be even higher.” a home with Growthpoint, a and grown. It is also gratifying
to know there were other people
Shawn Theunissen, Head of development programme for Tackling this challenge head-on, pioneering and entrepreneurial who believed in and supported
Property Point, says, “We are Growthpoint. Property Point set out to change organisation that has spearheaded this idea. They were willing to put
incredibly proud to celebrate The research began with perceptions. After all, perception the ability to support small funding behind it, enabling it to
a decade of impact. From the understanding the programme’s is reality. Its solution was to build businesses and showcased grow to the extent it has today.”
start of our journey building users – the stakeholders. For the reputation of the businesses it opportunities for these businesses.
sustainable small businesses, we corporates, it considered the works with – on both sides of the It has also attracted partners such Theunissen teases that his
focused on the need to see and value proposition of developing fence; with the opportunity holder as leading JSE-listed property unofficial title is Chief Potential
measure our impacts. We believe small business outside of the and the small business itself. company Attacq and the South Officer, because his role is seeing
if you cannot measure it, you compliance environment, and “We really want to change the African Department of Small every opportunity of potential
cannot manage it. We wanted local B-BBEE legislation. For narrative around black business,” Business Development. and believing in people. “I believe
to apply best practice impact small black businesses, which emphasises Theunissen. To do every business that has been
“These leaders have aimed their
measurement to see what we at that time were very much a this, Property Point encourages focus on the end-goal of creating part of Property Point has been
are delivering. Ten years down minority in the South African small businesses to sell their gratified to see their growth, from
the line, consensus is that we economy, it assessed needs ability to deliver in excellence businesses that are thriving, where they started to now. I feel
have been able to fine-tune a lot and obstacles. and to highlight their value growing the economy and like the proud parent of every
of what goes into an effective What came out of the research proposition rather than their creating jobs,” says Theunissen. single business that has come
business support programme, was that a significant gap existed. B-BBEE level. Looking to the future, Property through the process. It’s not just
whether an incubator or Initial feedback from corporates Point has the potential to the businesses that have grown,
accelerator. We have really been was that small businesses are “Building a reputation become an initiative for the but the people too. That is the
power of possibility. People have
able to show an impact.” not compliant, they don’t have means promoting your track entire property industry and taken a risk on me to lead this
The seeds for Property the technical capacity to be able record, which underscores beyond, having established its process and now I get to do
your credibility, capability and
Point were first planted to deliver, they don’t have the competency,” he explains. own track record as a benchmark the same with others; it’s
when Theunissen received track record, and they needed for providing entrepreneurship incredibly rewarding.” 
a scholarship to study in to be trialled. From a small With its innovative approach and development with a focus on
Denmark. At the time he business perspective, the initial measurable results creating credible, growing impacts. www.propertypoint.org.za

Shawn Theunissen, Head of CSR at Growthpoint Properties Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme winners at the April graduation ceremony.
and founder of Property Point.

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