Investec rewards learners with entrepreneurial potential

These initiatives culminated in the Junior Innovators awards ceremony held recently at Investec - recognising learners who have demonstrated promising entrepreneurial potential.

The Junior Innovators Competition, now in its second year was jointly developed by Investec and JASA with the aim of stimulating entrepreneurial skills and thinking among learners in Grades 10 and 11. Learners who participate in the Junior Achievement Programme are invited to apply for the Junior Innovators Competition, 40 of whom are then selected on the basis of their business idea to participate in the week-long entrepreneurship training workshop at Investec in Johannesburg.

During the final workshop, mentors, all JASA alumni, play a role in helping leaners refine their business ideas by exposing them to the basics of business, microeconomics, business ethics and ways of improving their entrepreneurial potential.

The competition gives learners an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned through JASA's programmes as well as the rigorous entrepreneurship training workshop hosted by Investec.

Linda McClure, managing director of JASA notes, "The Junior Innovators Competition is a fantastic opportunity for learners who have participated in a Junior Achievement Programme. The intensive four day workshop exposes learners to various aspects of entrepreneurship and the structure of the competition ensures that learners have to work in teams as well as individually. The experience for the learners is invaluable and great appreciation goes to Investec for making this possible."

Finalists are judged based on a number of attributes. These relate to their products as well as their business acumen, including their willingness to take risks, and their resilience, passion and confidence about their business idea. With this year's theme being innovation, judges will also take into account the quality of innovation and knowledge of a respective industry and target market. The learner who has developed the most innovative business idea and is selected as the winner of the competition will receive R60,000 towards his/her tertiary study at a university of their choice.

Setlogane Manchidi, head of Investec Corporate Social Investment (CSI), believes the Junior Innovators Competition is an ideal fit with Investec's philosophy in this area as it is underpinned by the two strategic pillars of education and entrepreneurship. Commenting on this year's competition, Manchidi says: "Our focus on entrepreneurship is deliberate. At Investec, we believe that by developing a generation of entrepreneurs we will be able to create opportunities for employment, wealth creation and socio-economic growth. Through the Junior Innovators Competition, we are able to identify entrepreneurial talent and provide an opportunity for these individuals to grow into some of South Africa's successful future business leaders."

The winner of the Junior Innovators Competition will have the honour of receiving their award from key note speaker Herman Mashaba, chief executive officer and founder of Leswikeng Minerals and Energy Limited and Black Like Me Limited.

Promising ideas included in this year's competition range from a three-in-one stapler, punch and staple remover, by Iqbaal Osman from Merebank Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal, to magnetic cars which could see a reduction in motor vehicle accidents by Shantell Mojela from Princess High School in Johannesburg.

These follow appropriately from the high standard set by the 2012 finalists and particularly Junior Innovator competition finalist, Keith Mbaso from Eqinisweni Secondary school, who went on, as part of a team to win the SA HP Global Social Innovation Relay with the idea of converting kinetic energy from a playground to power households near the playground and, in so doing, assist the community.