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Entrepreneurial award scoop for PE
Posted on: Thursday, 24 November 2005. Article source: Weekend Post
Jacque Bellingham, owner of Coastal Bricks, has scooped the national Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year Award – a first for a Port Elizabeth-based company.
He will be honoured in Port Elizabeth in coming weeks for the accolade that recognises his phenomenal business success. He was named the regional winner in October.
He was not available to comment as he is currently abroad.
The competition has been running for seven years and recognises the vision and drive demonstrated by the country’s foremost entrepreneurs.
Coastal Bricks is the brainchild of Bellingham, who saw the opportunity in the early 90s to supply high-quality, durable and affordable cement maxi blocks for low-cost housing developments in the Eastern Cape.
So strong was the demand for his new product that at one stage his production line ran on a 24- hour cycle for a full year.
After expanding to accommodate this demand, he later added cement pavers to his range. A contract to supply cement building products to the Coega Development Corporation consolidated his company’s market position.
Today, Coastal Bricks’ range includes custom-purpose cement blocks, pre-cast cement flooring and walling, all of which are SABS 1029 approved.
In addition to his trophy, Bellingham won R20 000 in cash, advertising and publicity to the same value, and mentorship and consulting services to the value of R10 000.
Coastal Bricks was competing against Dyer Island Cruises from the Western Cape, Kulucrete South Coast from KwaZulu Natal, Long Run Labels of Johannesburg and M&M Hiring in Gauteng.
The five finalists were judged by a team comprising Troy Dyer, executive officer of SA Venture Capital Association, Eben Gerryts, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Tersia van der Merwe from Business Partners.
“I’m often asked what it is that makes a successful entrepreneur,” said Jo Schwenke, MD of Business Partners. “Our experience as a company is that the successful entrepreneurs are those who have a combination of unique vision, personal drive, solid management capabilities and, of course, a good business plan.
“These are the qualities we look for in our award winners and the qualities which we believe separate the leaders from the pack.”
He will be honoured in Port Elizabeth in coming weeks for the accolade that recognises his phenomenal business success. He was named the regional winner in October.
He was not available to comment as he is currently abroad.
The competition has been running for seven years and recognises the vision and drive demonstrated by the country’s foremost entrepreneurs.
Coastal Bricks is the brainchild of Bellingham, who saw the opportunity in the early 90s to supply high-quality, durable and affordable cement maxi blocks for low-cost housing developments in the Eastern Cape.
So strong was the demand for his new product that at one stage his production line ran on a 24- hour cycle for a full year.
After expanding to accommodate this demand, he later added cement pavers to his range. A contract to supply cement building products to the Coega Development Corporation consolidated his company’s market position.
Today, Coastal Bricks’ range includes custom-purpose cement blocks, pre-cast cement flooring and walling, all of which are SABS 1029 approved.
In addition to his trophy, Bellingham won R20 000 in cash, advertising and publicity to the same value, and mentorship and consulting services to the value of R10 000.
Coastal Bricks was competing against Dyer Island Cruises from the Western Cape, Kulucrete South Coast from KwaZulu Natal, Long Run Labels of Johannesburg and M&M Hiring in Gauteng.
The five finalists were judged by a team comprising Troy Dyer, executive officer of SA Venture Capital Association, Eben Gerryts, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Tersia van der Merwe from Business Partners.
“I’m often asked what it is that makes a successful entrepreneur,” said Jo Schwenke, MD of Business Partners. “Our experience as a company is that the successful entrepreneurs are those who have a combination of unique vision, personal drive, solid management capabilities and, of course, a good business plan.
“These are the qualities we look for in our award winners and the qualities which we believe separate the leaders from the pack.”
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