Masters in entrepreneurship

Allan and Margaret Hirsch were announced as the runners-up in the master category of the Southern Africa World Entrepreneur Awards, which was hosted at the Inanda Club in Sandton on 1 December.

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The award ceremony celebrated business leaders and those community members who have made a difference in their countries and their economies as a whole. And finalists were selected on entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance, personal integrity and influence, innovation, community or global impact and strategic direction.

The pair, who started their appliance and electronic business 37 years ago in a tiny shop in Durban North with just R900 in the bank, were delighted to have been nominated for the award and, as the only unlisted JSE company in their category, were proud to have gone so far. They also took the time to congratulate Peter Mountford from Super Group, who was the category’s winner and who will go on to compete against others from 50 different countries for the EY World Entrepreneur Award next year.

“Peter Mountford was a very deserving winner and we know that he will do South Africa proud in the World Entrepreneur Awards at Monte Carlo in June next year,” said Margaret.

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“This has been a successful year, generally, for the Hirsch Group.” They recently opened their 18th branch in South Africa in Carnival in Brakpan, and earlier this month announced that the company had experienced double-digit growth over the last 12 months, despite the economic climate in South Africa.

The company has won several awards recently and Margaret has won 18 business awards in the last four years, culminating in her Global Inspirational Women Leadership Award and the United States Congressional Commendation Award by the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development. She was also nominated as one of Watch! magazine’s top 100 most influential women in emerging economies.