Portia Ngakane | GauSHEQ Services

Programme sponsor: DSV

“Everything I learned has helped me shift my mindset from treating GauSHEQ Services as a small side venture to running it as a scalable and sustainable business.”

I established my business, GauSHEQ, a 100% female-owned entity specialising in safety, health, environmental, and quality (SHEQ) services in 2019 after spending 15 years in the industry. While I loved my job and the opportunity to travel globally for work, I had reached a ceiling with my employer. I was no longer feeling fulfilled, and I had always planned to be self-employed by a certain age – so I took the leap.

Starting out was tough. I struggled to get my foot in the door, but I was fortunate to secure many of my first clients from the suppliers I had worked with during my employment. One of my biggest challenges was understanding my finances – I had the technical knowledge, but the business side was a whole new world.

In 2020, I was incredibly fortunate to be selected for a DSV-sponsored Raizcorp business-development programme. Through learning and guiding sessions, I gained the structure my business needed. I learned how to formalise and professionalise GauSHEQ Services, shifting my mindset from treating it as a small side venture to running it as a scalable and sustainable business. Raizcorp played a big role in this transformation. Today, my team has grown from just me to five people, including three permanent auditors and a receptionist.

Growing against the odds

The SHEQ sector, particularly ISO certification, is still very male-dominated, but I believe it’s time for more women to step up and show that we can deliver – maybe even better than our male counterparts! That’s why female empowerment is a key part of my business strategy. I am intentional about hiring women and ensuring that we create a space where women can thrive in this industry.

Our business growth since starting the programme has been remarkable, particularly in 2024. The previous two years saw minimal growth, but last year, we experienced a major positive shift. Part of this success came from expanding our services – we added three new ISO standards to our portfolio and introduced ISO training as a formal service. This addition paid off significantly, contributing to our biggest year of growth yet – we nearly doubled our turnover from the previous year! We also signed

a contract with the British Standards Institute and secured two accounts outside South Africa, one in Lesotho and another in Swaziland.

A transformed entrepreneur

Looking back, I can see just how much I have changed as an entrepreneur. I now surround myself with other business owners, and my business language has improved significantly. Everything I learned about finance at Raizcorp started to make sense last year – I still refer to my notes! One of the biggest breakthroughs for me was finally separating my business and personal finances. It took time, but in January last year, I started paying myself a salary instead of using business funds for personal expenses, and it’s been a game changer.

Another huge step for me is knowing and understanding my market. I no longer take on just any client – I have had instances where I walked away from deals that didn’t align with my business. That level of confidence and clarity came from my time on the programme.

Perhaps one of my proudest moments is becoming a Non-Executive Director and 51% shareholder of an engineering company. This is a testament to how far I have come, both professionally and personally.

The power of the right support

The three-year sponsorship by DSV was life-changing. Without that opportunity, I would not be where I am today. The knowledge, mentorship and guidance I received shaped my business and my journey as an entrepreneur, and I will always be grateful. I truly hope that new entrepreneurs take this opportunity – it’s hard work, but it pays off.

At GauSHEQ Services, we remain committed to growth, excellence, and empowering women in the workplace. As a 100% female black-owned entity, our hiring strategy is focused on fostering the sustainability of a successful, female-driven business. The journey hasn’t been easy, but looking at how much we’ve achieved, I know the best is yet to come