KickStart competitors await results
The South African Breweries runs this R2.95 million programme to promote business awareness through training, supplying grants as start-up capital and providing post-training mentorship and assistance during the setting-up phase of business.
The finalists are Siyabonga Dumisa, Lunga Wanda, Ian Roberts, Senzo Ntshangase, Dumisani Mthembu, Comfort Lindokuhle Mbongwe, Dalisu Phelago, Morgan Nzama, Nosipho Radebe, Pamela Buthelezi, Noxy Mavundla and Lindeka Nyathi.
A panel of five judges, all captains of industry in Durban, have scrutinised the business plans and interviewed each of the finalists, assessing their achievements. The top five winners will receive grants to 'kick start' their businesses and will compete in the national finals next year, where they stand a chance of winning further grants and mentoring.
Successful programme
This year's candidates offer services across a wide range of careers from catering, event organising, business services, manufacturing and farming. Aimed at 18-35-year-olds from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, over 22 913 existing and budding entrepreneurs have already benefited from KickStart and participants have started more than 3290 businesses.
Some 80% of grant winners from 2001 to 2005 are still in business, with 81.8% of those who received between 2006 and 2008 still operating. More than 83% of recipients have reported that their businesses are growing, and the turnover of these businesses has increased by an average of 375%. Almost one third supply goods and services to SAB. Many of these enterprises have grown into multi-million rand organisations employing a significant amount of people.
The success of the programme has led the parent company, SABMiller, to roll out the programme in group companies in five countries across three continents and is being considered for further expansion in other countries where SABMiller does business and the need for entrepreneurial development is as keen.