02 Apr 2019

Mr Hope Nkgwang says he started a construction company called Hope Pioneer Holdings specialising in architecture, construction and house designing  to put food on the table.

The entrepreneur, who has an Associate degree in Architecture from Limkokwing University which he was awarded in 2014 said he registered his company in 2012 using his allowance and savings.

The 26-year-old revealed that prior to that, he was selling hot dogs and buying clothes and selling them in remote areas.

He said the business opened its doors in 2016, selling art works and doing architectural services, with an office at Nkoyaphiri in Mogoditshane.

Mr Nkgwang said in 2017, he was funded by Youth Development Fund (YDF) to the tune of P99 637 and he relocated to Thamaga.

The Thamaga-born said his business had employed two office assistants and 20 non-permanent staff, who were called as and when there was need.

It also had two students on attachment at some point.

Mr Nkgwang said the brand had improved and had been able to penetrate the market.

He said he used to work as an assistant teacher and part time lecturer, but he resigned to focus on his business, hence being able to establish an entity that could sustain him, create employment and help Batswana.

“I will not say we have a lot of money, but the business has potential to make money.  The funding has long been depleted but we are still going,” he said.

To him, entrepreneurship gave his life a challenge and the struggle enabled him to give people services equivalent to what they paid for.

Hope Pioneer Holdings is a one stop for all since one can buy a plan and hire construction workers from it. Like any other business, it faced challenges. 

Mr Nkgwang said He started the business when he was only 20 years old, and it was difficult to convince people to support him. 

He however, said he had his first tender whilst doing third year and he designed a three bedroomed house.

He said Batswana did not build in large numbers so construction companies flocked for government projects.

The other problem was that there was shortage of space and the construction equipment had to be kept far from the office, which was not safe.

He said being a micro business posed a challenge of transporting machinery, citing that they had a project in Palapye and they spent a lot on transport.

He lamented the high registration fees required by the Architect Registration Council (ARC).

It was necessary to register with ARC since it enabled him to submit plans at the council and failure to be a member meant he needed someone who had been approved as an architect by ARC, which limits the scope of architectural plans. He said his future plans include going into manufacturing as there is a call to head in that direction.

Mr Nkgwang however says they are still deciding what to produce, which can diverse to other sectors such as agriculture and tourism. He pleaded with the government to protect emerging businesses, saying the current requirements favour established companies. ENDS