Emerging Business Entrepreneur of the Year®: Kim Whitaker, Once in Cape Town
Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year®: Bryan Anderson, Delta Steam Systems
Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year®: Nadir Khamissa, The Hello Group
Job Creator of the Year: Lewis Thomas, Partners Hair Design
Innovator of the Year: Nadir Khamissa, The Hello Group
Judges Prize: Ncamisile Maphumulo, Coastal Nephrology Centre
Entrepreneur of the Year® 2015: Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner, The Creative Counsel
TCC is currently the largest advertising group in South Africa by staff and turnover, employing more than 1000 permanent employees and thousands of temporary staff who are trained and upskilled. Oved and Neu-Ner were selected from a finalist pool of 15 due to their exceptional flair for business and the creativity, passion and focus that they have demonstrated since starting the business 14 years ago.
The entrepreneurial qualities that the two display have resulted in a prosperous and innovative business model, and what started in 2001 as a two man operation is now a R600m+ business which employs and upskills thousands of South Africans. In the last year alone TCC grew by more than 25% and was recognised as the largest local advertising and communications group – a first in South African history that a non-traditional agency has achieved such status.
TCC was started as an in store promotions company by the co-CEOs and co-founders who have been friends and budding business partners since they were 15. The business has since evolved into an integrated agency that offers brand activation, experiential sales and marketing solutions to brands that wish to engage with their customers in a unique way.
According to Frances Wright, a member of the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® judging panel, what Oved and Neu-Ner have built in 14 years is phenomenal. “TCC today competes with multinational marketing and communications agencies that have been around for centuries. These two entrepreneurs have perfected job creation in that they employ candidates deemed ‘unemployable’ by employers and focus on up-skilling them, and therefore make a significant contribution to not only the economy, but job creation too. The business has also shown consistent growth, while maintaining a healthy net profit over the years.”
Neu-Ner says that winning this accolade is incredibly humbling and a great honour. “The platform also provides an opportunity for us to share the story of our entrepreneurial journey and hopefully through our failures, lessons learnt, and successes, many young people will be encouraged to pursue their business aspirations.”
For further information on The Creative Council, please visit www.creativecounsel.co.za
After establishing Partners Hair Design 31 years ago, Thomas established the Partners Hair Design Training Academy (PHDTA) with the aim to educate, empower and equip aspiring local hairstylists with the necessary tools to succeed in a very competitive industry. The academy is SETA accredited and provides solutions, aligned with the latest in global hair styling trends, to both the general public, as well as Partners Hair Design staff.
The training academy offers a full-time course over a 12-month period to learners, thereby enabling them to complete all three academic levels required for a full ladies hairdressing qualification in one year, and empowering them to enter the local job market far sooner than after the standard three year course.
Lewis has a very hands on approach and plays an integral role within the academy, as he believes that it plays a critical role in growing the business, as well as the hairstyling and beauty sector, as all students are instilled with global standard skills, professional values and work ethic. He explains that the training includes a fully-functional salon that accurately simulates a day’s work in a salon, empowering graduates with real-life skills and experience. “In the simulation they work with real-life hairstyling products from the larger beauty houses, and are trained in the use of the in-salon software that is commonly used by large players in the hairdressing industry.”
In addition to the role that Thomas plays in education, Partners Hair Design employs approximately 250 individuals nationally, who are exposed to continual on-the-job training and education, which extends to advice on savings and financial wellness, dress and even diet. He says that professional, intensive and personalised training and education is the most important factor which differentiates Partners Hair Design not only from other businesses in the industry, but often from businesses in general.
“Our staff are our most important asset, not only as they are the essence of our business, but because we care for them as individuals,” explains Thomas.
Feroze Oaten, a member of the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® judging pane, says that Partners Hair Design epitomises what the Job Creator of the Year® award stands for. “Thomas and his team not only employ a significant number of employees throughout South Africa, addressing unemployment rates of the communities which the businesses serve, but also play a key role in continually uplifting and training their employees with world-class skills.”
Thomas believes that entrepreneurs should be celebrated and recognised due to the important role they play in society. “As with most global or multinational businesses which employ thousands of people it starts with just one person with an idea – the entrepreneur. This person focuses on the idea, overcomes the obstacles and ultimately reaps the rewards on his or her journey.”
For more information about Partners Hair Design visit www.partnershair.co.za
The entrepreneur also clinched the title of Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year® due to the impressive financial results the business has achieved, as well as its ability to constantly adapt to the changing market. The group consists of a number of subsidiaries, each of which offer an innovative product or solution to individuals from migrant and marginalised communities.
Hello Group’s three main products and services include HelloMobile – a prepaid SIM card which offers customers discounted international calls and competitive local tariffs; Hello Distribution – the distribution arm for telecom and financial services products to a base of 43,000 registered agents in the metro city centres and townships; and HelloPaisa – a low cost International Money Transfer company. Khamissa started the business after identifying a need for affordable international calls from South Africa.
Vincent Tshikhovhokhovho, a member of the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® judging panel, says that Hello Group’s product offering is extremely innovative and stands out in a very competitive and strictly regulated market. “The products help to empower South Africans in an affordable and accessible way. The judges also believe that Hello Group is a catalyst in bringing families and friends closer together no matter where they are, whether it is locally or internationally, especially among the working class and migrant communities.”
In addition to creating an innovative service, Hello Group has also started an entrepreneurship programme which trains individuals to understand basic concepts of business and then employs them as distributers, which has transformed the lives of thousands. After training these individuals the business supplies them with the required tools to ensure that they can manage their supply and support into target territories as well as support them with marketing and promotional activities to stimulate their business ventures.
Khamissa says that he feels truly privileged to be selected as a winner in the awards as it is recognition of the tremendous efforts by the people at Hello Group and their partners. “Celebrating and recognising great entrepreneurs gives young people role models and an example to follow. The hope is that these examples spark the imagination of the next generation of entrepreneurs to drive the world forward.”
For more information visit www.hellogroup.co.za
Speaking at the event, spokesperson for the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, Christo Botes, said that the judging process was extremely challenging this year, with judges having to select winners for the seven categories from 15 deserving finalists who were selected to advance to the final round of judging.
Botes says that Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner of TCC were selected as the overall 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year® winners due to the phenomenal success which the business has achieved in its 14 years of operation. “Founded in 2001 as a two-man agency, TCC is today the largest advertising group in South Africa by staff and turnover, with a targeted presence in Africa and plans to expand further into emerging markets.”
He says that TCC has also perfected the process of job creation – a trait inherent in entrepreneurs and a key reason why the competition seeks to discover and unmask South Africa’s economic heroes and celebrate the role they play in society. “The agency is one of South Africa’s largest private first-time employers in that the business employs untrained candidates and then focuses on up-skilling these individuals and equip them with experience for their future careers.”
Anderson is the creator of a revolutionary Delta Venturi steam trap system, which removes water from steam systems to keep manufacturing systems efficient. The innovative product range is disrupting the global steam trap industry due to its simplicity and longevity.
The Hello Group exists to create game-changing integrated consumer and business services for migrant and marginalised communities, and consists of a number of subsidiaries, each of which offers an innovative product or solution for individuals from these communities.
Once in Cape Town is a hospitality establishment which is a combined product of two different accommodation types – a backpackers’ lodge and a luxury hotel – globally dubbed as a ‘poshtel’. The business offers a concise brand promise – the fun and adventurous qualities synonymous with a backpackers’ lodge, together with the cleanliness, safety, centrality and efficiency of a hotel.
Thomas started the successful group of Western Cape based hair salons 31 years ago and currently owns 14 are unisex salons and eight male salons. In 2012, he launched his second line of hair salons called Hair Freedom. Providing full-time employment to over 250 employees, Lewis has also established a successful SETA accredited hair training academy which educates and equips students with tools to success in the competitive industry.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) entrepreneur, Ncamisile Maphumulo, of Coastal Nephrology Centre – a kidney dialysis treatment centre in deep-rural KZN – was awarded the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® Judges Prize. The judges prize was introduced last year and seeks to acknowledge a business that may not yet be at the same level of the other entrepreneurs (in terms of size and turnover), but makes an impression on the judges due to their attitude and positive entrepreneurial outlook.
Botes says that the judges believe that Maphumulo’s business needed special recognition for the social impact it is making. Maphumulo decided to start her business to provide much needed healthcare solutions to the patients that were left stranded by the closure of the health company she worked for in the community. “Maphumulo recognised the need in the community and used her competence to render a much needed service,” says Botes.
The competition provides prizes worth R 2 million, and will see the overall winner receive a cash prize of R 100 000.00 and the other category winners receiving R50 000 each. Each winner will also receive valuable mentorship support, networking opportunities and associated marketing and national media exposure to further drive their business’ success. Past winners have also gone on to win other prominent national and international awards and form valuable partnerships as a result of their success in the competition.
Now in its 27th year, the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition aims to honour, recognise and uplift South African SMEs and entrepreneurs, as well as celebrate excellence in entrepreneurship and inspire others to succeed in the world of business.
The Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year® category celebrates entrepreneurs who have been in business for a maximum of 5 years, with a turnover not exceeding R5 million.
Once in Cape Town is a combined product of two different accommodation types – a backpackers lodge and a luxury hotel – globally dubbed as a ‘poshtel’, and was born after Whitaker took over a struggling two star lodge and revamped the business and staff structures completely. The business offers a concise brand promise – the fun and adventurous qualities synonymous with a backpackers lodge, together with the cleanliness, safety, centrality and efficiency of a modern hotel.
Due to innovative and creative business and marketing strategies that Whitaker has fast implemented, the establishment has managed to increase occupancy rates from 32 to 80% in the short space of only 12 months. Despite constant re-investment, the business has also managed to maintain a 23% profit margin. The establishment is now recognised as a four star establishment in the backpacking category by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
Whitaker has also introduced a new company culture and structure, which encourages staff to take responsibility for their own skills development and professional careers. Her efforts and hard work has resulted in a fun, social, friendly, safe and welcoming environment for tourists and locals to enjoy, and she believes that the employees of Once in Cape Town are the business’s best asset.
The business currently has a permanent staff complement of 25 employees, and has a staff to guest ratio of 1:5, well above the international average of 1:8 in a hostel environment, which Whitaker believes is necessary to provide quality and attentive service.
She says that entrepreneurship is the embodiment not only of financial risk-taking, but it is the execution of a usually creative and unique idea that others are afraid to even dream of. “It is the opportunity offered to people fortunate enough to be called entrepreneurs, in exchange for hours of scheming, focus and plenty of blood, sweat and tears.”
According to Frances Wright, a member of the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® judging panel, Whitaker is deserving of the award as she has in a very short period of time successfully managed to turn around a failing business, which is extremely challenging. “A strong business culture was developed and implemented, resulting in the establishment becoming a thriving business with a strong culture. The business’s target market is well defined and Whitaker clearly understands the need of their customers. With a 30% net profit, Once in Cape Town is deserving of this award,” she concludes.
For more information on Once in Cape Town please visit www.onceincapetown.co.za
The Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® Judges Prize, an additional award introduced to the competition last year, was awarded to Maphumulo due to the social impact that her business is making in the community.
The centre was started by Maphumulo when the health company she was working for in the area closed down their dialysis centre, leaving sick patients stranded. Maphumulo decided to start her own business to help the patients who needed to travel hours to receive the necessary treatment, and now provides much needed healthcare solutions in deep rural areas where treatment is not easily accessible.
Feroze Oaten, a member of the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® judging panel, says that the decision was taken by the judges to award Maphumulo the prize due to the vast difference she is making, as well the entrepreneurial drive that she possess. “She recognised the desperate need in the community and used her competence to render a much needed service.”
Coastal Nephrology Centre offers kidney dialysis treatment services to the population of Ulundi within the Zululand District, a rapidly developing municipality that services a thriving rural community. The business has subsequently branched out, and started a renal unit in Nongoma which began offering treatment in August 2014, Mahlabathini, Melmoth and surrounds.
The centre also offers an education programme which involves a management programme for patients with end stage kidney disease, family history of kidney disease, compromised kidney function, hypertension and diabetes.
Maphumulo says that being recognised by the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition means the world to her as it shows that the judges believe in her business and the hard work she has put into it thus far. “Entrepreneurship is all about risk taking and building something from nothing. Entrepreneurs should be celebrated and recognised as they all play a vital role in growing the South African economy and creating jobs.”
For more information please visit www.coastalnephrologycentre.co.za
The Delta Venturi steam trap system, which removes water from steam systems to keep manufacturing systems efficient, is disrupting the global steam trap industry due to its simplicity and longevity. The business is experiencing tremendous growth in both local and international markets and yielding strong financial returns.
Delta Steam Systems was started in 2008 after Anderson continued to experience ongoing problems with the continuous failure of mechanical type steam traps, resulting in industrial companies around the world wasting millions of rands/dollars/euros. In addition to the product failure, the existing products available were very costly and had an extremely short lifespan.
After Anderson identified the need he went about designing and developing a product that has no moving parts which can fail, is more efficient over its entire lifespan when compared to other products, and is guaranteed for ten years.
According to Kobus Engelbrecht, a member of the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® judging panel, the judges were very impressed by Anderson’s ability to establish and grow a business of such a technical nature without possessing any technical qualifications. “Anderson displays the qualities of a true entrepreneur – identifying a problem within a certain industry, creating a solution for the problem, and turning this solution into a profitable business.”
Situated in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, the business has a sales footprint in more than 20 countries worldwide, and competes with multi-million dollar global companies, both in South Africa and abroad. As a result the business has steadily gained significant market share each year.
Anderson says being selected as a winner in the competition is encouraging and motivating. “Being acknowledged for my achievements has never been a motivating factor, but I realise now that what I have been putting my mind into has certainly been worthwhile, and has become something more than just an idea.”
He adds that recognising entrepreneurs is essential as it creates awareness to others of the role of the entrepreneur in business. “It also motivates others, especially younger generations, to be part of the entrepreneurial movement, which is essential to long term growth and the success of a country.”
For more information please visit www.delta-industries.com
