Tag: education

Empowering entrepreneurial minds across Africa

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“Entrepreneurship isn’t the finish line – it’s a journey of continuous learning, unlearning and relearning. As an entrepreneur you must strive to be an expert in your respective field. You may not have all the answers, and that’s okay, but don’t settle for the mediocrity of not knowing.”

This is the expert advice from Anele Mkhuzo-Magape who founded Zinde Zinde (Pty) Ltd t/a African Entrepreneurship Initiative – a consulting and entrepreneurship education training company with a focus on youth in townships and peri-urban areas.

Mkhuzo-Magape is an entrant in the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS.

She started her career at the Gordon Institute of Business Science’s (GIBS) Enterprise Development Academy, designing programmes for long-term sustainability in entrepreneurship. After three years in the position, she discovered that there was a gap in the market: there were too few Enterprise Development Agencies creating programmes specifically targeted at young black entrepreneurs in townships and peri-urban areas. Some entrepreneurs had to travel far to access these programmes and access was further worsened by a language barrier in their execution. This meant that some entrepreneurs didn’t have the confidence to adequately express themselves and what their businesses do.

When she left her job to focus on her business full time, Mkhuzo-Magape had almost nine years of corporate experience in customer service management and project management, and an education background in Economics and Business Administration. This, she says was a solid foundation to build from and she felt very privileged for the opportunities that she had – she knows this is not every entrepreneur’s story.

“I knew I wanted to change that narrative through education and entrepreneurship. It is my responsibility as a young person to plough back into the community what I have learnt and to continue learning every day.”

New business development is always difficult. Mkhuzo-Magape says her greatest challenge was identifying corporates and government departments that were truly passionate about realising her vision. “We didn’t want to simply consult and deliver training as a tick box exercise; we wanted to create sustainable and thriving enterprises, and programmes that change lives and communities.”

Mkhuzo-Magape says the business model is built on accessibility, and that beneficiaries do not pay for their services. Funding comes from corporate and government institutions that they partner with. “Our greatest challenge is convincing potential investors of our passion and making them see the value it offers in terms of their long term strategy.”

But she says seeing entrepreneurs who have been through their programmes develop and reach for opportunities to realise their ideas is her greatest achievement. “There are so many talented young people with amazing ideas but they just need the right support and platforms to help elevate them– I get to do that every day, and that’s my success.”

Over the next five years, Mkhuzo-Magape envisions African Entrepreneurship Initiative to grow into a knowledge hub for young entrepreneurs across the continent, and says she has structured the business’ growth strategies to achieve this. “We want to bring innovation to entrepreneurial education through practical tools such as simulations and gamification. Our training must be relevant and accessible to youth and be presented in the vernacular languages that are appropriate to the youth we want to target.”

Closing the funding gap for women entrepreneurs

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By Gugu Mjadu

Spokesperson for the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS.

Globally, women experience many barriers to equal economic participation. The Establishing a baseline for lending to women-owned SMEs 2013 report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) points to low levels of access to finance for women entrepreneurs with 15-25 percent of loans issued to women across 34 IFC client financial institutions in 25 countries. This presents a significant stumbling block to economic growth for the country.

The 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS aims to build on the entrepreneurial successes celebrated for the last 30 years by encouraging and rewarding women making waves in their communities through business. Over the last five years, for example, we have seen 35 female entrepreneurs named finalists in the annual competition which accounts for 47 percent of all finalists, and 13 named winners accounting for 43 percent of all winners.

While we remain encouraged by the increasing number of female entrepreneurs entering the competition – we need to uncover and celebrate many more women who, to a large extent, remain unsung heroes of their communities through such business competitions.

According to the African Development Bank, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the financing gap for women is estimated at over $20 billion. This amount is made up by gender-specific challenges that women face, including lower access to quality business training and education, lesser funding opportunities for women-owned small businesses, and cultural beliefs discouraging women from participating in business.

Since our economic growth as a country largely depends on the success of entrepreneurship – it is crucial to ensure that both male and female, existing and aspiring, entrepreneurs have equal opportunities when it comes to accessing funding, training and business opportunities.

These are a few practical steps women can take to proactively close the finance gap for themselves and increase their access to growth opportunities:

Invest in knowing your industry

One of the general rules of thumb when it comes to entrepreneurship is to know more than what directly impacts your own business. It is important for entrepreneurs to be aware of the economic macro and micro environments affecting their businesses, and also the political and legislative landscape within which they operate. For women especially, it is also key to know the points of exclusion of a particular industry, if any. You have to be aware of the general biases and stereotypes in your industry in order to disrupt them.

Collaborate with other women

The old adage of ‘two heads are better than one’ is a powerful mantra for women in business to remember. A group of women-owned organisations standing together and calling for equal funding and business opportunities stands to make a bigger difference than any one organisation doing this work in silo. The work done by organisations and chambers such as the Businesswomen’s Association is therefore important in facilitating this collaboration and women entrepreneurs are advised to participate in similar organisations.

Look for opportunities with like-minded funders

There are many organisations that provide funding and who are passionate about creating equal opportunities for all – some of whom have funds specifically aimed at assisting female entrepreneurs. It is important to find out about these financiers and align your business finance applications with their criteria.

We hope to see the biggest number of female entrants in this year’s competition since our launch in 1988. We must continue to encourage women to embrace entrepreneurship and disrupt staid industries and to participate in competitions that highlight their success.

If you haven’t entered yet, be sure to visit the entry form page, and complete the entry form before 31 May 2018.

Student-centric business named Innovator of the Year® in national entrepreneurial competition

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Driven by his passion to find solutions to the growing crisis regarding high tuition fees, Mpodumo Doubada, founding CEO of Pimp my Book, has been named Innovator of the Year® at the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS awards ceremony, which was held on 6 September 2017 in Johannesburg.

Pimp my Book, an ever-growing chain of campus stores across the country, was founded on the simple premise of buying and selling used textbooks. After earning his first 10% commission on the sale of his friends’ textbooks, Doubada quickly saw the opportunity to create a one-stop platform where students could sell their used textbooks for cash, as well as purchase the books they need.

Originally set up in 2006 from his university dorm room at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Doubada’s fledgling informal business quickly flourished and he had students lining up to buy and sell used textbooks. Today, Doubada and his team of now 17 full-time staff members, operate a chain of four stores as well as an online store, where students country-wide are able to trade in used text books, thereby helping to ease the burden of the high cost of tertiary education in South Africa.

According to the competition’s judging panel, it was Doubada’screative drive and dedication toward the cause that made his business stand out above the rest. “This is a business that has identified a unique gap in the market – with an almost naturally captive audience. Doubada has done well to build his business which speaks to the unique needs of thousands of students across all disciplines, sectors, and regions – a need which is also well established and likely to exist well into the future,” the judges commented.

Doubada and his team not only found a workable solution to ease a burden that thousands of students face every year, but were also innovative enough to develop their own point-of-sale system for their unique business, allowing them to track all stages of transactions taking place – from the buying back of used text books, to the sale thereof – something which Doubada credits as one of the business’ greatest achievements thus far.

This young, enthusiastic and driven entrepreneur is committed to remaining innovative within his business, and the greater education sector, acknowledging that the private sector has an important role in this regard. “The solution for our current education crisis cannot only come from government. Private businesses need to play their part in making education more affordable,” says Doubada.

Furthermore, Doubada is a firm believer in teamwork and empowering his young team of diverse, creative individuals. Beyond what the business has already managed to achieve through innovative thinking, it is this go-getter attitude that has cemented Doubada’s title as a true Innovator of the Year®.

Visit www.pimpmybook.co.za for more information on Pimp my Book.

A business created for students, by students

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Mpodumo Doubada – founding CEO of Pimp my Book, a chain of campus stores founded in 2006 at the University of Cape Town (UCT), is a young entrepreneur making waves in the education sector. 31-year-old Doubada from Cape Town founded the business on the premise of buying and selling used textbooks. Since the business was founded, Pimp my Book has expanded to serve a number of universities across the country.

Doubada recounts his own university experience, noting the shared struggle to source textbooks at an affordable price, and how this inspired him to launch Pimp my Book from his dormitory accommodation at the UCT. “I wanted to create a one-stop platform where students could sell their used textbooks for cash as well as purchase the books they need,” says Doubada, recalling his first year of university where he began selling his friends’ textbooks on consignment, taking a 10% commission on all sales made.

Within weeks, his fledgling informal business was flourishing, with students lining up to buy and sell used textbooks. However, the innovation however didn’t stop there. Doubada and his team of now 17 full time staff members, discovered that with increased demand and the setting up of formal stores, a proper, efficient point-of-sale system was required.

The struggle for Pimp my Book however was to find a system which allowed for the buying back of used textbooks, and not only recording the sale thereof. Doubada and his team worked with developers to create their own point-of-sale system unique to their business, which would allow them to track all stages of transactions taking place. “Creating a system that works for our unique business has been one of our greatest achievements, allowing us to expand to multiple stores. I no longer need to manage stock manually, but can monitor stock levels and performance for all stores from the convenience of my office,” he says.

Doubada is proud of his business’ innovation, and credits the success of the business to his team of young, diverse, creative individuals who have all brought their talents to the team. The team is also diverse in terms of experience – with many branch managers having been trained internally from entry level to management. “I look for people who are eager to make something out of their life – I do not train people on the job alone but rather teach them the character and discipline required to make our business work,” he explains.

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting as well as a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA), Doubada has dedicated his entire career to Pimp my Book, and has big dreams to expand his stores into every university in the country. Ultimately, he believes that his business is making a positive contribution to tertiary education in South Africa, pointing to the Fees Must Fall movement which has come about in recent years in the sector. Pimp my Book provides a workable solution to thousands of students who cannot afford brand new textbooks – ultimately helping to ease the burden of the high cost of tertiary education.

Mpodumo Doubada is a finalist in the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS. For more information on his business, please visit the Pimp my Book website: www.pimpmybook.co.za.   

Six ways for businesses to become pillars of the community

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Many businesses make a point of giving, from sponsoring sports gear to donating goods to a nearby charity. By helping out in this way, the thinking goes, the business fosters goodwill and loyalty in the community.

But charitable giving is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways in which businesses can contribute towards the welfare of the communities and cement their position as good corporate citizens. Gugu Mjadu, executive general manager: marketing at Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS), lists six ways in which businesses are sure to become pillars of their community.

Make your business profitable

In a certain sense, it sounds like the polar opposite of being community minded or charitable. But being profitable is the single biggest contribution that a business can make to the community in which it is based. It means that the service it provides is sustainable, and that community members will be able to rely on it being there next year and the year after.

Being profitable means that the jobs provided by the business to members of the community are stable, dependable and long-term.

In contrast, the respect earned by the big-tipping type of business owner who prioritizes buying flashy cars over business sustainability is as superficial and short-lived as the business itself.

Train your staff

All over the world, small and medium businesses are responsible for a huge amount of work-place training, simply because they cannot afford to appoint fully trained workers like big corporations can. They appoint youngsters with the understanding that the salary will not be great to start off with, but there will be lots of training. And in a small-business setting the worker is often in close proximity to the owner, who can constantly give expert feedback and on-the-job training.

In South Africa, where state-provided basic education and vocational training is to a large extent struggling, the role of the small business in keeping vocational skills alive has become absolutely critical. The few workers who are well trained and educated tend to work for bigger companies, while small businesses tend to employ untrained youngsters from their community in return for on-the-job training.

Yet the idea of training sits uncomfortably with many small business owners, who fear that all their investment in the on-the-job training of a youngster will be lost when they are poached by bigger businesses as soon as they are proficient.

It is bound to happen at some stage to every small business, but the fear is overrated. Research shows that one of the best ways to instill loyalty in workers is by providing skills development. The few who do leave for better-paying jobs are indeed the business owner’s contribution to the industry skills pool, which, although it may not be immediately apparent, benefits every business in the long term.

Be visible to the community

A business owner’s presence in the community provides another crucial contribution to the development of South Africa, which urgently needs role models to show the youth that self-employment or entrepreneurship is a valid and worthy alternative to working for someone else.

Business owners do not have to be flashy or glamorous in order to make an impression on the youth. A solid presence as a role model can be established by low-key involvement such as giving talks at schools or serving on the board of a local community project. And here charitable giving can play its most important role. When business owners sponsor the kit of a local soccer team, for example, the value they provide as role models is worth much more than the price of the donation.

Mentor young entrepreneurs

Apart from the general role modeling that business owners can do in their communities, they can also focus on imparting skills and knowledge to up and coming young business owners in their industry.

Even though they are strictly speaking competitors, the bond developed by mentorship is beneficial to both businesses. Experienced business owners can refer overflow work to the young entrepreneurs they mentor, and can strengthen their capacity by forming joint ventures with them.

Experienced business owners can also join, or set up, formal mentorship programmes. BUSINESS/PARTNERS, for example, has a pool of more than 300 business owners in its mentorship programme. Many of the participants are retired business owners who want to contribute to South Africa’s economic development by sharing their extensive experience with the younger generation of business owners.

Be vocal about issues that hurt your business

Workers have well established structures and methods to make a noise and exert pressure when they feel their rights are being threatened. Students are again finding their voice to raise awareness about their plight. But the voice of the business owner is largely silent, even in the face of serious damage inflicted by unnecessary red tape. Big business, when they do speak up, often do not face the same challenges as small businesses.

An important part of the problem is that business owners are too busy to spend much time participating and setting up local business associations. But it also has to do with a lack of a culture of activism. Join your local chamber or business association, even if it is dominated by big business, and even if you contribute just an hour or two per month. In their numbers, the voice of small business can become powerful.

Innovate

You don’t have to change the world like Google, or shake up industries like Elon Musk. Incremental and localized innovation is hugely beneficial to the community. Every time a business introduces something as simple as SMS notifications to its clients, or a new method copied from overseas, life becomes a little more convenient, products and services a little better or cheaper, and the business itself a little stronger.

Alternative ways to seek education – think entrepreneurship

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Despite the high demand placed on tertiary education in South Africa, only a small percentage of the 700 000 recent high school graduates are expected to be placed in institutions of higher learning as the new academic year begins. Largely owing to finances, or a lack of space to accommodate current and new students, many school leavers are unsure of how to further their education for future career paths or making a living.

Whilst the benefits of a formal tertiary education are well documented, it is not the only opportunity available to post-matriculants. Rather than adding to the statistics of the unemployed, students should think entrepreneurially about furthering their education, says Gugu Mjadu, spokesperson for the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS.

She says that similarly to becoming a successful entrepreneur, there is no single path to becoming a success in the workplace. “It doesn’t start and end with a degree – the determination to succeed, innovation and a passion for a chosen field also contribute to success. While in many instances a formal education is advantageous and encouraged, it does not guarantee a successful work career. For instance, some of the most successful entrepreneurs do not possess an educational qualification, but have succeeded in growing an established and thriving business.”

With the unemployment rate currently recorded at 27,1% (according to Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey – Q3 2016), it is crucial that displaced students find other ways to learn and further themselves within their careers, even if it is for the short-to-medium term until they are able to further their education at a tertiary establishment.

“Tertiary institution applicants who were not accepted into those institutions should use this time as an opportunity to take their education into their own hands by seeking mentorship and exploring how to learn new, hands-on skills from an established business owner in their chosen field. This way students will gain not only knowledge, but valuable hands-on experience, which can prove to be invaluable when starting their chosen careers later on,” says Mjadu.

With the 38,2% of South Africans between the ages of 15 and 34 reportedly unemployed during the third quarter of 2016, the private sector and entrepreneurs have the opportunity and responsibility to proactively and positively contribute towards the growth of the local economy by providing practical learning opportunities to the youth.

Mjadu explains that this approach will not only assist in job creation, but the hiring of interns can also be beneficial for businesses, especially entrepreneurial businesses. “Interns can bring fresh ideas to the table, and in order to give them the most valuable experience, they can work across various departments to find their niche.”

Mjadu says that youth considering this option should find the right match to ensure the best learning outcomes. “Firstly, young individuals should contemplate the choice of entrepreneur to shadow. It is important to carefully assess who to approach to shadow or learn from, what you would like to learn from them and why, as well as what to offer the entrepreneur in return. Applicants should make sure their qualities and skills match that of the company in order to motivate why they are fit for the position.

Secondly, the youth need to be persistent. Most entrepreneurs who are willing to provide such learning opportunities are not necessarily looking for qualified graduates – but enthusiastic, hard-working and passionate candidates.

She adds: “Being an intern is much like being an entrepreneur – you need to find the right person to invest in your career. If you are hungry to learn and have a good work ethic, keep seeking out these opportunities.”

Mjadu concludes: “In order to assist in rectifying the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa, the youth should be encouraged to explore entrepreneurial workplace options that will upskill them. Likewise, business owners should create more opportunities for the youth in their businesses and support the younger generation of potential entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurial ventures.”

Most attractive sectors for entrepreneurs in 2017

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By Christo Botes

Spokesperson for the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS

2016 was a tough year for many South Africans – and small businesses took a hard knock as the local economy experienced many challenges to overcome. Despite this testing environment, there are certain sectors that are ripe with opportunity for astute entrepreneurs to capitalise on in 2017.

In addition to the sectors that traditionally perform well in South Africa, such as tourism, there are definite opportunities being identified in other, less traditional sectors which show ample entrepreneurial potential. These include:

Telecommunications

Currently, there is a lot happening in the telecoms sector, with the expanding national rollout of fibre driven by the growing uptake of bandwidth-intensive applications. This has opened up a host of opportunities, ranging from the implementation of cables to technical support services. As bandwidth speeds increase, we’re seeing the integration of technology, communication and entertainment to form a whole new industry that has really taken off in South Africa and represents a major growth sector.

Private education

Internationally, statistics show that around 10% of all schools are privately run. As there are about 26 000 schools across South Africa, and only around 1 600 of those are private, there is currently a market capacity for about 1 000 private schools to be opened in the next few years.

Locally the demand for private education is on the rise, and there is an increase in the number of entrepreneurs moving into this space. In addition to being an area that exhibits great potential for profitability, the education sector is also attractive in terms of its social and economic factors. South Africa has a major skills shortage which can only be effectively tackled by the increased accessibility of quality education.

Mining

2017 will likely see some recovery in the struggling mining sector. At the end of 2016, there was already some indication that the mining sector was making a comeback, as commodity prices stabilised and, in some instances, even increased.

Agriculture

It is predicted that there will be more rainfall in the coming summer season which will be welcomed by the agricultural sector, having suffered some of the most severe drought conditions ever in 2016. This expected break in the drought will not only benefit farmers directly as they resume their operations, but also those in the supply chain supporting the sector,  such as packaging or logistical suppliers, who can also expect an uptick in business operations.

How can entrepreneurs capitalise on the new year’s opportunities and make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality in 2017?

  1. Remain positive and avoid getting despondent. Don’t allow your dream to go wasted because of challenging factors.
  2. Seek guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs who have already made their way around the block to avoid repeating their mistakes.
  3. Do your due diligence, but don’t wait around for someone else to make the first move – business conditions will likely get tougher as the industry becomes more crowded.

Most attractive sectors for entrepreneurs in 2017

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2016 was a tough year for many South Africans – and small businesses took a hard knock as the local economy experienced many challenges to overcome. Despite this testing environment, there are certain sectors that are ripe with opportunity for astute entrepreneurs to capitalise on in 2017.

This is according to Christo Botes, spokesperson for the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, who identifies technology, communication and education as some of the sectors that are set to grow in 2017. “In addition to the sectors that traditionally perform well in South Africa, such as tourism, there are definite opportunities being identified in other, less traditional sectors which show ample entrepreneurial potential.”

Botes says that the first of these thriving sectors is telecommunications. “Currently, there is a lot happening in the telecoms sector, with the expanding national rollout of fibre driven by the growing uptake of bandwidth-intensive applications. This has opened up a host of opportunities, ranging from the implementation of cables to technical support services. As bandwidth speeds increase, we’re seeing the integration of technology, communication and entertainment to form a whole new industry that has really taken off in South Africa and represents a major growth sector.”

Another industry that Botes says shows great potential for South African entrepreneurs is the private education sector. “Internationally, statistics show that around 10% of all schools are privately run. As there are about 26 000 schools across South Africa, and only around 1 600 of those are private, there is currently a market capacity for about 1 000 private schools to be opened in the next few years.”

He adds that locally the demand for private education is on the rise, and that there is an increase in the number of entrepreneurs moving into this space. “In addition to being an area that exhibits great potential for profitability, the education sector is also attractive in terms of its social and economic factors. Our country has a major skills shortage which can only be effectively tackled by the increased accessibility of quality education.”

Botes goes on to say that 2017 will also likely see some recovery in the struggling sectors of mining and agriculture. “At the end of 2016, there was already some indication that the mining sector was making a comeback, as commodity prices stabilised and, in some instances, even increased. It is also predicted that there will be more rainfall in the coming summer season which will be welcomed by the agricultural sector, having suffered some of the most severe drought conditions ever in 2016.”

For entrepreneurs looking to make their dreams a reality in 2017, Botes offers the following advice: “Firstly, remain positive and don’t get despondent. Don’t allow your dream to go wasted because of challenging factors. Secondly, seek guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs who have already made their way around the block to avoid repeating their mistakes. And finally, do your due diligence, but don’t wait around for someone else to make the first move – business conditions will likely get tougher as the industry becomes more crowded.”

Entrepreneurial innovation is key to improving the local education sector

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The South African education sector has been thrust into the spotlight again recently, eliciting many questions, debates and varying opinions about potential solutions to an ongoing challange. Amid all the negativity currently being reported on, 2016 Innovator of the Year® award winners, Ryan Harrison and Stacey Brewer of SPARK Schools, remain inspired as ever to use the opportunities presenting themselves within the sector.

It has been reported that South Africa has one of the highest rates of public investment in education in the world. Accounting for around 7% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 20% of total state expenditure, the government spends more on education than on any other sector. Yet, Ryan, says that this is currently not translating to tangible results.  

Ryan and his co-founder Stacey, started the SPARK Schools network in response to the growing opportunities that became available to fix a struggling education system through creativity and innovation.

SPARK Schools is a network of primary schools dedicated to delivering accessible, high quality education by using a blended learning programme, which combines traditional classroom teaching and online learning, to individualise education for all students. The SPARK Schools model is the first of its kind for primary school students in Africa and the software SPARK School scholars use is adaptive, allowing for highly individualised student practice and assessment.

“The primary education division is one of the hardest areas to innovate because young children need much more stability and hands-on guidance to aid their development, whereas in senior levels, children are able to self-study, which allows for more creativity in the tools they are exposed to within the classroom,” says Ryan. “At SPARK Schools, we’ve only just begun to shake things up in the way our education model works, but there is a need for an overhaul and renewed creativity, in order to work towards a system that benefits all our learners – countrywide.”

As state schools currently have the monopoly within the education system, more competition is needed to drive change, says Ryan. He stresses the need for more entrepreneurs to get involved in this vital sector of the South African economy. “It’s not all about making money – sometimes we have to forgo the easy sell to make a quick buck initatives, and instead get really innovative for the sake of our, and our children’s, future.”

He explains that if parents were presented with more options to choose affordable, private education, as opposed to state school facilities, the sector would benefit overall. “As in any industry where a monopoly is present, we tend to accept mediocrity for lack of other options available. But the minute there is new competition in the industry, we as consumers are able to choose options that suit us better, according to our own personal preferences. Competition also forces businesses – and in this case, schools – to aim higher and perform better.”

Part of the innovation within SPARK Schools is the emphasis placed on teachers. The school prides itself in the amount of effort that goes into their recruitment process for teachers. “Teachers find themselves under a lot of scrutiny, and part of this is owing to the often inadequate training that they receive, which often does not sufficiently prepare them for the classroom,” says Ryan.

SPARK Schools has implemented a number of innovative activities for teachers at their school. These include a training programme to accustom new teachers to the SPARK Schools education model, and on-going professional development which includes weekly 4-hour skills-training sessions customised to a teacher’s particular needs, internal coaching to mentor and assess teachers in their classroom on a weekly basis, as well as ad hoc leadership training programmes outside of the classroom to assist teachers to grow into a principal role.

Overall, these positive, go-getter entrepreneurs have realised that when working in the education space, quality takes priority over everything else. “We want to instil a culture of innovation within our schools and this means that everyone employed here has to fit into our culture and mission. We work towards one common goal, which is to provide high quality private education at affordable rates,” says Ryan.

“We have many dreams and goals for the SPARK Schools network. Ultimately, we want to take our schools abroad. But for now, our core focus is on South Africa, and increasing SPARK Schools’ current network of 11 to 20 schools across the country. With a larger share of the education sector pie, we hope to inspire the sector to make a real difference in the quality of education that is provided to South Africa’s children and families.”

SA’s top entrepreneurs recognised at 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition

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South Africa’s premier annual entrepreneurial competition, Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners, has named Johan Eksteen, second-time finalist and owner of Agricon, as the overall winner of the 2016 competition in Johannesburg this morning.

Speaking at the event, spokesperson for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners, Gugu Mjadu says that Eksteen was selected as the overall 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® winner due to his strong entrepreneurial attitude and the remarkable growth and expansion that his business has exhibited since first entering the competition two years ago.

“Since being named a finalist in the 2014 competition, Agricon has not only expanded and experienced rapid growth in turnover, but has also made improvements in its business processes which have contributed to its growth,” says Mjadu.

She adds that the high calibre of business acumen and entrepreneurial talent of the finalists this year made it no easy task for the judging panel to decide on six category winners from the 15 deserving entrepreneurs who were selected to advance to the final round of judging.

Other 2016 category winners include:

  • 2016 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year®:Vanessa Jacobs, founder and owner of Sow Delicious. Sow Delicious® is an edible gardening store, whose easy-to-grow vegetable and herb Slab of Seed® invention is making edible gardening more accessible for the ordinary, non-gardener consumer. www.sowdelicious.co.za
  • 2016 Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year®: Meisie Nkosi, owner of Bella Bonni Guest House. Four star graded Bella Bonni Guest House, based in eMalahleni (Witbank) and encompassing 18 rooms, has managed to stand the test of time during challenging economic conditions since opening its doors in 2006. www.bellabonni.co.za 
  • 2016 Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year®: Carl Pretorius, founder and owner of Just Trees. Recognised for its economically strong, yet environmentally friendly business practices, Just Trees is a wholesale tree nursery that supplies specimen container grown trees to the trade throughout South Africa, as well as to certain export markets. www.justtrees.co.za
  • 2016 Job Creator of the Year®: Michael Roberts, owner and founder of Khonology. Founded in 2013 in a response to skills shortages in the South African technology sector, Khonology has played a significant role in bridging the gap between academia and corporate expectations for graduates entering the workforce by equipping them with vital technological and financial skills. www.khonology.com
  • 2016 Innovator of the Year®: Stacey Brewer and Ryan Harrison, co-founders of SPARK Schools. SPARK Schools is a network of primary schools dedicated to delivering sustainable, affordable and high quality education by using a blended learning programme, which combines traditional classroom teaching and online learning, to individualise education for all students. www.sparkschools.co.za

Now in its 28th year, the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners aims to honour, recognise and uplift South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their achievements and elevate their business profiles – as well as their profits.

Mjadu says that given the current job market and economic landscape, now more than ever, South Africa needs to rally behind and support local entrepreneurs. “Given South Africa’s high unemployment rate of 26.6%, the country needs to promote entrepreneurship and support its main job creators – local entrepreneurs. Agile by nature, entrepreneurs are eternal optimists and will continue to see opportunity rather than challenges when faced with adversity.

“The 2016 group of 15 finalists have created 1071 job opportunities. This is just a small handful of South Africa’s many entrepreneurs. The more we recognise our local economic heroes, the more we can inspire other individuals to embark on their own entrepreneurial journey,” says Mjadu.

The competition provides prizes worth R2 million, with the overall winner receiving a cash prize of R150 000 and the other category winners receiving R50 000 each. Each winner also receives diagnostic analysis of their businesses coupled with valuable mentorship support, networking opportunities and associated marketing and national media exposure to further drive their business’ success. Mjadu says that while the cash prize is always valuable to a business, the true value in the entrepreneurial platform lies in the networking opportunities secured through the competition’s network.

Mjadu concludes that the success of this year’s winners is testament to the thriving level of entrepreneurial talent and success present in the country. “In addition to celebrating excellence in entrepreneurship, we hope that this impressive group of winners will inspire others to succeed in the competitive and innovative world of business.”