Nominations are open for the 702/CapeTalk Small Business Awards in South Africa, with more than ZAR1 million (US$80,000) in prizes available to startups in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
The awards, which are sponsored this year by Sage One, look to recognise small businesses with large potential and provide them with the required support. Listeners of 702 and CapeTalk are invited to nominate businesses that have impressed them over the past year.
“Whether it’s a startup, or established business, the key to success is passion, persistence, hard work and determination. We want to know about small businesses that are striving for success in everything they do, including customer service,” said Ivan Epstein, chief executive officer (CEO) of Sage Africa, Australia, Middle East and Asia (AAMEA).
“Small businesses are the engines of employment and economic prosperity. We at Sage are passionate about helping them to succeed. We want to highlight the achievements of small businesses that are creating jobs, building the economy, and delivering goods and services that enhance the lives of their customers.
Colleen Louw, CapeTalk station manager, said since it launched the Small Business Awards had profiled 420 businesses on radio platforms, giving them an opportunity to reach new markets.
“The feedback from the business owners has been that the interviews have had a direct and immediate impact – their phones start ringing as soon as they come off air,” she said.
702 station manager Pheladi Gwangwa said the awards were part of a broader strategy to support small businesses due to their importance for economic growth.
“As large enterprises downsize and restructure, small businesses have come to play an increasingly important role in creating employment and for that reason they need our support to give a multiplier effect to this role,” Gwangwa said.
Two winners from each region will receive advertising packages to the value of ZAR250,000 (US$20,000) on 702/CapeTalk, while two runner-ups from each region will receive ZAR125,000 airtime packages. Sage, meanwhile, will give away laptops with free access to Sage One Accounting and Sage One Payroll software and a training course or seminar of their choice.
Nominations are currently open, with the finalists to be announced from the week of August 10.
