Western Cape seeks to recognise region’s most exciting entrepreneurs

For a third time running, the Western Cape Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (PERA) is again looking for the Province’s top entrepreneurs. This year, the total value of the prizes for the event has been increased to a total of R1 880 000.

Ranging from various categories that include Best Job-Creating Business, Best Emerging Tourism and Best Green Business, PERA seeks to acknowledge and recognise the Province’s most exciting entrepreneurs and encourage job creation.

The Overall Winner will receive prize money, an overseas trip and an engraved trophy. The 12 category winners will receive prize money and an engraved plaque. The category runner ups will, receive prize money and an engraved plaque.

Last year’s overall winner was Jeanne Groenewald with her business Elgin Free Range Chickens. Started in 1997, the company now employs around 300 people and supplies retailers with 80 000 free-range chickens per week.

Funda was recognised as the Western Cape’s top emerging business for helping universities create affordable, online learning programmes. Founder Kolawole Olajide is pictured above with Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille.

TV production and media company Okuhle Media, furthermore, was named the region’s best-established business.

Other companies that were awarded include Stellenbosch’s Washtub Industrial Laundry Service for being the best green business, Khayelitsha Cookies for being the best social enterprise, and Lumkani for having the best innovative student idea.

Read more: Okuhle Media recognised as most established business in Western Cape

To apply, you can visit the Western Cape PERA website here. Entries for the awards close on 14 September.

Below are all the respective categories:

Categories of business	Prize money
Best Emerging Business	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Best Established Business	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Most Innovative Business	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Best Job-creating Business	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Best Emerging Regional Business	R 50 000.00 (winner)
Business with Global Reach	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Best Social Enterprise	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Best Emerging Tourism Business	R100 000.00 (winner)
Best Emerging Agro-Processing Business	R100 000.00 (winner)
Best Green Business	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Best Innovative Student Business Idea	R100 000.00 (winner) R 50 000.00 (1st runner-up) R 25 000.00 (2nd runner-up)
Best School Business idea	R 20 000.00 (winner) R 10 000.00 (runner-up)
Overall winner and Business of the Year Award	R100 000.00 (International trip or Trade Fair) + R 100 000.00 (cash prize to be used for developing the business)
Total	R1 880, 000.00