One week left to enter the Oliver Empowerment Awards

"This is going to be one of the most tightly contested events in the Awards' history," says Topco Media CEO Ralf Fletcher. "So far this year we have had fantastic entries from companies from small organisations to giants like Netcare, Investec, Southern Sun, KPMG, Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz. Our nomination team is working round the clock up to the close of entries on 26 March."

The Oliver's have, for over a decade, recognised and rewarded companies and individuals who have contributed to or are succeeding in the arena of Black Economic Empowerment and are firmly established as a veritable benchmark for BEE performance in South Africa. Winners are chosen based on hard analysis and the process adjudicates empowerment in conjunction with corporate performance.

Fletcher says that that there is still time to enter, and he advises companies to submit nominations that are well thought out and contain all the necessary facts. "Your entry needs to not just specify what you are doing and how much you are spending but more importantly the judges are looking for entrants that can properly demonstrate how they measure and reassess their contribution and the results from their initiatives."

"We look for the success of real empowerment, not just in terms of score in the BBBEE scorecard or the level of financial investment in areas like employment equity," says Fletcher.

The entries cover the spectrum from heartwarming stories of real successes by NGOs, to huge initiatives undertaken by organisations.
"One submission this year details a company that has spent several million on a three year literacy program that has involved 5,000 learners from over 100 schools. After three years they retested the learners and found a 14% improvement in literacy across the whole group," says Fletcher.

The Oliver Empowerment Awards culminate in a glittering A-list event taking place at the Emperors Palace on 3 May.

For more information on the Oliver Empowerment Awards or to enter, please visit www.oliverawards.co.za contact Haley Fletcher on tel: 086 000 9590 or via email: az.oc.ocpot@rehctelf.yelah.

Entries close on 28 March 2012.

Categories for the Oliver Empowerment Awards 2012:

Organisation Awards

• Empowerment Funding Award
  
• Education & Training Award
  
• Supply Chain Management Award
  
• Corporate Leadership Award
  
• Community Builder Award
  
• New Business Development Award
  
• Diversity Award

Individual Awards

• Top Entrepreneur of the Year Award
  
• Top Black Leader of the Year Award
  
• Top Black Public Sector Executive Award
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award

Headline Awards

• Top Black Owned Business of the Year Award
  
• Top Empowered Business of the Year Award
  
• Top Black Owned SMME Award
  
• Top Public Service Award
  
• Most Black Empowered Multinational Award
  
• NGO of the Year Award