Smart start-ups looking for a leg-up have realised the benefits of corporate enterprise development (ED) programmes. Designed to help companies earn BBBEE points on the dti scorecard, the well-run programmes offer real value in terms of training, mentorship and preferential payment terms to struggling SMEs. Langa Sangoni, founder of Apple Green waste management contractors, knows first hand how beneficial they can be. His company was offered a place on Property Point, Growthpoint’s ED programme, which led to its first major contract to handle the waste management for two of Growthpoint’s key properties.
“That contract gave us all the credibility we needed to pitch for and land other corporate contracts,” he says. In just four years Apple Green has grown to service 92 property sites across a wide customer base and increased its staff complement from five to 105 people.
“In addition to the credibility of a large contract, we got valuable training, mentorship and preferential payment terms when we took on the Growth Point properties. I’d certainly recommend that other start-ups investigate good ED programmes and try to get involved,” says Sangoni.
Vital Stats
Player: Langa Sangoni
Company: Apple Green Holdings
Started in: 2007
Contact: 08611 APPLE