Established in the spring of 2000, The Growing Business specialises in outdoor services that help capture beauty, enhance functionality and express individual tastes and preferences through the use of professional landscaping techniques and gardening expertise.

The Growing Business, managed by owners Anton du Plessis and Cecil Thompson, is proficient in offering services that optimise property investment and realise attractive living and working environments:

• Drawings and plans by Landscape Architects
• Irrigation planning and installation by certified irrigation specialists
• Engineering competencies to enhance structural development
• Building contractors that provide quality workmanship
• Project consultation and management to ensure successful projects
• Professional quantity surveying
• Site specific consultation to property owners

The Growing Business confidently manages projects of varying types and sizes including turnkey solutions for:

• Property developers
• Business parks and individual companies
• Security estates
• Home owners and property investors
• Shopping centres

Professional Associations

The Growing Business’ operations comply with the specifications, industry standards and code of conduct as defined by the South African Landscape Institute (SALI). Clients are therefore assured of receiving the highest standard of workmanship, plants and materials from The Growing Business. Both owners are executive committee members of SALI and Anton du Plessis is the current SALI Chairman.

The Growing Business participates in regular joint South African Green Industry Council (SAGIC) meetings, which provide invaluable networking opportunities for industry participants to leverage their knowledge and expertise. Leading, specialist information on copious topics, including the advancement of information technology within the industry, is discussed at SAGIC. It is the intention of The Growing Business to remain at the forefront of the developments within the industry and we are committed to further enhancing this strength going forward.

Team

Co-owners Anton du Plessis and Cecil Thompson are passionate about the outdoors and collectively have over 30 years experience in the landscaping industry. Every project is overseen by either Anton or Cecil. This strategy retains the responsibility for project success with top management and provides all clients direct access to The Growing Business’ owners.

Operations Manager
Qualifications: National Diploma - Horticulture (Cape Technicon)
Memberships: Executive Committee Member of SALI

Cecil has over 15 years experience as a horticulturalist and has worked in maintenance, retail as well as wholesale nurseries and environmental management positions.

Managing Director
Qualifications: National Diploma – Landscape Technology
LIA (Landscape Irrigation Association of South Africa) National Certification
Memberships: Executive Chairman of SALI (term: 2007 to 2009)

Anton’s experience in landscaping is divided between the public and the private sectors, where for over 15 years he has provided landscaping, building and irrigation solutions to clients.

Differentiators

Our work is personal, it is what we love and we do it with unswerving commitment to excellence.
We expose our clients to greater things and achieve the unimaginable.
Our intimate knowledge of plants and landscaping assures success and growth in our clients’ gardens.
We partner with our clients to achieve their outdoor aspirations.
We enjoy a successful track record for quality workmanship and are an easy company to do business with.

Black Economic Empowerment

The management team at The Growing Business is committed to South Africa’s transformation goals and objectives and sees transformation as an opportunity for growth and development.

Our development initiatives encompass the enhancement of entrepreneurial and skills of previously disadvantaged individuals through on-going training and daily mentoring. We are committed to growing our staff complement under the guidance of the Employment Equity Act of South Africa in order that the demographics of the country are reflected within our organisation.

The Growing Business’ empowerment initiatives span outside the borders of it own structure. We transfer skills to a black empowered building construction company. The relationship with this emerging company, Hluvukani Landscapers (Venda for “The Growing Business”), results in job creation, ensures skills transfer and provides lucrative building contracts that enhance its financial performance.

The management at Hluvukani Landscapers is over 70% black. Predominantly, the organisation is a building construction organisation, which fulfills all of The Growing Business’ demand for building works. A formal contract exists between the parties, solidifying the relationship and The Growing Business’ commitment to black economic empowerment. When not managing outside operations, the management at The Growing Business participates in Hluvukani business meetings and strategy sessions to provide tactical input into the day-to-day operations of the organisation.

During the course of business, The Growing Business utilises other black empowered companies to assist with client projects where no in-house capacity exists. These decisions are merit based and rely on previous successful implementations of the respective Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The quality of the workmanship and the responsibility of successful project delivery towards our clients remain fully vested in The Growing Business, despite the use of sub-contractors where necessary.

Conservation

Insects and birds depend on gardens for their continued existence. The Growing Business offers alternatives to traditional pesticides and timber treatments to avoid the adverse effect on soil and its little inhabitants.

Our garden design solutions keep environmental issues top of mind and our knowledgeable garden designs often see the return of birds and insects through the correct selection of plants.