Awards are a great way to gain recognition and keep up with happenings in the small business arena (and some competition prize money doesn’t go amiss!). Click into this diary for some awards to put on your calendar for the year ahead…
Accenture Enablis Business Launchpad Competiton
This competition aims to create an opportunity for anyone with a business idea or existing business, and who finds it difficult to secure conventional commercial funding, to be considered for access to start-up or expansion funding.
Dates: Entries close 7 January 2011 | More info: www.businesslaunchpad.co.za
Cape Town Entrepreneurship Competition
This competition focuses on technology and innovation in the fields of biotechnology, telecommunications and media, information and communication technology (ICT), ‘clean’ technology, healthcare and social entrepreneurship.
Dates: Opened for entries on 1 October 2010, entries close 15 December 2010. Winners announced February 2011 | More info: www.ctec.co.za
Eat in Produce Awards
These awards were initiated in order to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding SA producers for their contribution to our food culture. They aim to recognise the small independent producers whose integrity, care for the environment, passion and innovation are putting SA on the international food map.
Dates: Nominations are currently open and winners will be announced in March 2011. | More info: www.eat-in.co.za
Ernst and Young World Entrepreneur Awards
Ernst and Young understand that entrepreneurs create many of the world’s most dynamic and successful companies, and this prestigious award goes to the most exceptional from among a unique group of people.
Dates: Nominations close end of March 2011 | More info: www.ey.com
Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year award
EOY aims to hold entrepreneurs up as role models in South Africa and help increase the incidence of entrepreneurship in South Africa. The competition encompasses all SMEs across all sectors.
More info: www.eoy.co.za
Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The Eteya ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award is more than just a financial leg-up. It offers finalists mentorship, training and a chance to showcase their products and make international contacts at a global tourism exhibition.
Dates: Winners to be announced May 2011 | More info: www.southafrica.net
FASA Awards for Excellence in Franchising
The FASA awards showcase and honour top achievers in the franchising sector. There are categories for all types of operators – from start-ups to established brands – and the awards are an excellent vehicle to highlight franchise success.
Dates: Deadline for entry 15 April, awards event 14 May 2011 | More info: www.fasa.co.za
National Business Awards
The National Business Awards were introduced to recognise and honour the top performers of the year in both industry and commerce, for individuals and companies.
Dates: Entries close 5 May, winners announced 3 June 2011 | More info: www.topco.co.za
SAB Kickstart Awards
KickStart is a youth entrepreneurial programme that was launched in May 1995. It is aimed at youth that either want to start businesses or expand their existing business. KickStart is mainly focused on creating a culture of entrepreneurship among young people.
Dates: Entries by end of June 2011 More info: www.sabkickstart.co.za
Africa SMME Awards
The Africa SMME Awards aim to showcase Africa’s successful SMMEs and promote and highlight the role that SMMEs play in the economic development of the continent.
Dates: Deadline for entries 31 July, winners announced October 2011 | More info: www.africagrowth.com
567 CapeTalk and 702 Small Business Awards
These awards are aimed at recognising small businesses that outshine the rest and are based on listeners’ nominations.
Dates: Nominations open 1 August and winners announced 6 September 2011 | More info: www.capetalk.co.za, www.702.co.za, www.pastel.co.za
BBQ Awards
The BBQ Awards are open to all black-owned and empowered organisations and reward organisations and individuals who play a key role in encouraging and promoting sustainable black business through leadership and empowerment.
Dates: October 2011 | More info: www.capemedia.co.za
Old Mutual Enterprise of the Year
The Enterprise of the Year competition is aimed at creating and sustaining profitable entrepreneurship, uniqueness and exceptional service in South African business. The competition provides publicity on a monthly basis to finalists and gives prestige to their business.
More info: www.oldmutual.co.za
Otshwere Business Awards
The word otshwere comes from the Basotho word meaning “you have it” and in context refers to someone who has “made it”. Launching in 2011, they aim to be South Africa’s premier emerging business awards, highlighting those who are succeeding in South Africa’s new struggle – the struggle for economic liberation and prosperity. The first awards ceremony will take place at Robben Island.
More info: www.otshwere.com (currently under construction)
Small Business Champion Awards
The NSBC is a dynamic and fast-growing non-profit organisation that is committed to the success of Small Business South Africa. They hold an annual competition to recognise and award champions in the small business arena.
More info: www.nsbc.org.za
The Sanlam Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture award
Women are capable plan-makers, especially those on farms who help keep the farming business going with their innovative entrepreneurial activities. Sanlam honours these women for their extraordinary role in the welfare of the farming community.
Dates: Entries close mid-July | More info: www.sanlam.co.za
Top Women Awards
The annual Top Women Awards celebrates the businesses and individuals who contribute every day to the empowerment of women. It is focused on honouring South Africa’s corporate pioneers, government employees and entrepreneurial heroes at the forefront of gender equality.
More info: www.topco.co.za
The Southern Africa Social Entrepreneurship Awards
Ashoka believes that building a critical mass of leading social entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas is an important step toward creating a vibrant, prosperous African continent. These social entrepreneurs are awarded annually.
More info: www.ashoka.org
No comments yet.