South African Breweries awards top entrepreneurs
SOUTH African Breweries announced their SAB KickStart award winners at a gala dinner held at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The awards ceremony was the culmination of the 2013 South African Breweries’ youth entrepreneurship development programme focused on developing and supporting sustainable businesses and entrepreneurs who are able to contribute to South Africa’s job creation needs.
The 14 finalists were announced earlier in the year and they took part in an intensive 12-month journey of personalised business mentorship and business development support. During this period there were a number of interventions to place each business on a growth path.
“Our top 14 finalists represent dedicated individuals whose connection to SAB KickStart yielded more empowered entrepreneurs capable of taking their businesses from start-ups to growing Small Medium Enterprises. The jobs they have managed to create, although a small contribution initially, is an indication of their potential to make a substantial impact moving into the future,” said Boipelo Nkadimeng, South African Breweries manager of enterprise development.
Top honours went to Anda Maqanda and his engineering consultancy business, AM Group, based in Port Elizabeth. The business specialises in electrical design for the mining industry. Second runner-up was Ricardo Hood from Vereeniging, for his welding training business Siyazizwa Investment Holdings. The first runner-up was Lyle Truter for his family-owned business, TRU PVC Products, based in Cape Town. It manufactures and supplies PVC pipe fittings for irrigation and civil engineering.
The top three winners each received grant funding for their businesses, as well as an international business learning trip.
