The 702/CapeTalk Small Business Awards with Sage One are underway, with more than R1 million in prizes up for grabs for the winners and runners-up in the Western Cape and Gauteng.

The annual Awards seek out small businesses with big dreams and enormous potential, recognising their achievements and providing them with the support they need to grow. The Awards invite 702 and CapeTalk listeners to nominate small businesses that have impressed them over the past 12 months. 

The aim is to give recognition to great small businesses that offer exceptional service, and provide them with the necessary exposure to help them grow, and inspire other businesses to follow in their footsteps.

The Awards are sponsored by Sage One - simple, secure and affordable online accounting and payroll for small to medium businesses. “Whether it’s a start-up, 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,” says Ivan Epstein, CEO of Sage AAMEA (Africa, Australia, Middle East and Asia).

“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.

For 702 and CapeTalk, the campaign offers valuable exposure to small businesses. “Since we launched the Small Business Awards we have profiled 420 businesses on our 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,” said Colleen Louw, CapeTalk station manager.

“The Small Business Awards are part of our broader strategy to support small businesses as this sector is critical to the growth in our economy,” added 702 station manager, Pheladi Gwangwa. “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.”

The winning small businesses will be awarded the following:

• The Winners: In each region, the two winners will receive an advertising package to the value of R250 000 on 702/CapeTalk.
• The Runner-ups: In each region, the two runner-ups will each receive a R125 000 airtime package on 702/CapeTalk.

Sage will award the winners in both regions a laptop with free access to Sage One Accounting and Sage One Payroll software (including one year of software support) and a training course or seminar of their choice, giving them the freedom they need to run their business anywhere, anytime.

Last year’s 702 Small Business Awards winner was Book Express, founded in 2005 as a micro enterprise that provides new and second hand books at an affordable price to the UNISA student market. Leather goods manufacturer Research Unit won the CapeTalk Small Business Awards.

“We received more than 1 800 nominations last year, showing the diversity and strength of South Africa's small business sector,” says Epstein. “This year, we hope to receive even more. We’re looking for small businesses with a passion for excellence and achievement.” 

If you have received exceptional service from a small business, 702, CapeTalk and Sage One want to recognise it, so be sure to submit your nomination as soon as possible. Finalists will be announced from the week of 10 August. Visit www.sba.702.co.za or www.sba.capetalk.co.za  for more information.