The Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition aims to honor, benefit and uplift South African SMEs.
This annual competition celebrates excellence in South African entrepreneurship and serves as an inspiration to others to succeed in the world of business.
To enter the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition, you must be based in South Africa and comply with the minimum criteria of the categories outlined below.
Entrepreneurs who enter may be considered for the following categories in the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition:
Emerging Entrepreneur: An entrepreneur who is in business for a maximum of 5 years and with a turnover not exceeding R5 million on the date the entry form is received by the steering committee.
Small Business Entrepreneur: An entrepreneur who runs a business, irrespective of length of time during which it has been active, with a turnover of between R5 million and R20 million in the tax year immediately preceding the date of entering the competition.
Medium Business Entrepreneur: An entrepreneur who runs a business, irrespective of the length of time during which it has been active, with a turnover of R20 million or more in the tax year immediately preceding the date of entering the competition. Controlling owner must be stated.
Job Creator of the Year: An entrepreneur who not only employs a significant number of employees, but also plays a key role in uplifting, up-skilling and training them. They help towards making a dent in the unemployment rate of the community, area, province, and country where the business is situated.
Lifetime Achiever Award: An entrepreneur who has, over the years, shown fortitude and strength in the entrepreneurial arena, and developed a business that has size, longevity and profitability.
Innovator of the Year
An entrepreneur with the ability to:
- Reinvent the way business is done in his/her industry; and/or
- Be innovative in the product or service being offered to the market; and/or
- Finds a way of drawing the best qualified and technical people in the industry and keeping them because of creating a special environment where employees can flourish.