Local businesses have four days left to enter the Western Cape’s 2015 Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (PERA.) Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, encouraged entrepreneurs to enter before the competition deadline on Monday (14 September 2015.)
This year’s prize money totals just over R1.8m, which includes a R100,000 cash prize and an international business trip. Minister Winde said small businesses were key job creators.
“SMME’s create the most jobs in our economy. When residents are employed, they are able to send their children to schools, they are able to provide for their families.
“Entrepreneurs are the heroes of our economy and we must celebrate and showcase their successes,” said Minister Winde.
Since 2009, the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism has given 26 000 entrepreneurs the support they need to make the economy grow, through a range of programmes. The PERA awards are also sponsored by ABSA, Deloitte, Entrepreneurship Organization, Marathon Group.
This year, the number of award categories has been expanded from five to 12.
The following categories are up for grabs:
- Best Emerging Business: A business in its initial growth phase operating in the Western Cape for between 12 months and 2 years;
- Best Established Business: Operating in the Western Cape for 5 years or longer with an annual turn-over of more than R10m and less than R50m;
- Best Social Enterprise: Operating in the Western Cape for 12 months or longer and embarking on a solution to address a social challenge through innovation;
- Best Green Business: Operating in the Western Cape for 12 months or longer and actively using green technology/concepts in the business;
- Best Innovative Student Business Idea: Any full time student at a Western Cape tertiary institution including FET colleges who has developed an innovative solution to a problem or created a new service. It could be an idea or concept.
- Most Innovative Business: Operating in the Western Cape for at least 12 months;
- Best Job-creating Business: Operating in the Western Cape for 2 years or longer with an annual turn-over of less than R10m and an indication of the number of permanent employees appointed over the last financial year;
- Best Emerging Regional Business: A business in its initial growth phase to be selected from areas outside of the Cape Metropolitan area and operating in the Western Cape for between 12 months and 2 years, with an annual turn-over of more than R3m;
- Best Emerging Tourism Business: A business in its initial growth phase operating in the Western Cape for between 12 months and 2 years;
- Best Emerging Agro-Processing Business: A business in its initial growth phase operating in the Western Cape for between 12 months and 2 years;
- Best School Business Idea: Any high school in the Western Cape (Grade 8 to 12 learners or equivalent). Learners could also apply on behalf of the school; and
- Business with Global Reach: Operating in the Western Cape for 5 years or longer with a turn-over of less than R50m per annum.
For more information on the qualifying criteria or to enter, entrepreneurs can visit www.wcpremierawards.co.za
