Nominations have opened for the 2016 702/CapeTalk Small Business Awards with Sage One, an annual celebration and support for the accomplishments of small South African businesses with big dreams and enormous potential. The winners and runners-up in Gauteng and the Western Cape will receive prizes worth more than R1 million that will help them to develop their businesses. 

The Awards are sponsored by Sage One – a simple, secure and affordable online accounting and payroll solution from Sage, the global market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment solutions. Last year, around 800 companies were nominated for the Awards.

702 and CapeTalk listeners are invited to nominate small businesses that have impressed them over the past 12 months. The aim is to give recognition to those entrepreneurial 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.

“South Africa’s entrepreneurs running Small & Medium Businesses trust us while they power the country’s economy. It is these entrepreneurs who are the drivers of prosperity and it’s our privilege to support and celebrate their achievements,” says Ivan Epstein, president for Sage International (Africa, Australia, Middle East and Asia) and Chairman of Sage Foundation. “We know that it takes, hard work and sacrifice to turn a dream business idea into a way of life. That’s why we support such businesses and sponsor these Awards every year – to make the voices of the entrepreneurs recognised and heard.”

For 702 and CapeTalk, the campaign gives valuable exposure to small businesses. “Our Small Business Awards are all about acknowledging the contribution South African entrepreneurs make to the economy and to their communities,” says Colleen Louw, CapeTalk station manager. “Over the years, the Awards have given hundreds of small businesses a platform to tell their stories to the world and grow their businesses.”

“The Small Business Awards are about encouraging entrepreneurship, which is so vital to growing prosperity and creating jobs in South Africa,” adds 702 station manager, Thabisile Mbete. “We want to recognise and reward the many wonderful business owners in South Africa who pursue their passions and follow their dreams by building great small companies.”

The winning small businesses will be awarded the following:

The Winners: In each region, the winners will receive an advertising package to the value of R250 000 on 702/CapeTalk. Courtesy of Sage, they will also receive a laptop, free access to Sage One Accounting and Sage One Payroll software, a training course or seminar of their choice, and a year’s worth of software support.

The Runner-ups: In each region, the two runners-up will each receive a R125 000 airtime package on 702/CapeTalk. From Sage, they will receive free access to Sage One Accounting and Sage One Payroll software, a training course or seminar of their choice, and a year’s worth of software support.

Old School Cool was named the winner of the 2015 702 Small Business Awards, followed closely by runners-up Ice ID and Beyond Ability Talent Solutions. Founded in 2009, Old School Cool provides safe, reliable and personalised transport to schools, extramural activities, classes, playdates, and so on, for children.

The Cape Talk Small Business Awards recognised Ziyahlanjwa Laundry as the winner for 2015. The runners-up were Cold Gold and DHW (Deaf Hands at Work). Ziyahlanjwa was founded by Sivu Mongo and her husband Justice after their research in the community indicated a need for a service where customers could drop off and collect their laundry.

If you have received exceptional service from a small business, 702, Cape Talk 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 8 August 2016.

Visit www.sba.702.co.za or www.sba.capetalk.co.za for more information.