SA’s top start-ups invited to enter MyAHi Awards

Business chambers, business owners, up-and-coming farmers and hospitality businesses from across South Africa have until Monday, 10 October to enter the MyAHi Awards, a prestigious annual competition for dynamic businesspeople.

Where previously the focus was on exceptional business chambers in the Western Cape, this year the AHi has decided to also recognise the economic contribution of business owners, farmers and the role of emerging business chambers nationwide.

The AHi Western Cape’s executive director, Dr Willie Cilliers, says no less than six honors will be awarded during a gala prize-giving function on Thursday, 3 November 2022. Entries for the honors close on Monday, 10 October, after which the top three finalists in each category will be announced on Monday, 17 October.

The six awards that will be presented at the gala evening’s awards ceremony include Business Chamber of the Year, Emerging Business Chamber of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Start-Up Business of the Year, Small Farmer of the Year and Hospitality Business of the Year. Year.

Cilliers says, “With this year’s MyAHi awards, we want to honor business owners and business chambers who, despite the pandemic and all the associated economic challenges, have found inventive ways to communicate with their customers or members. The MyAHi honors are often the greatest recognition such small business owners receive.”

The MyAHi announcement follows Statistics South Africa’s recent dismal figures that the unemployment rate now stands at 34.5%, after it was 35.3% in the fourth quarter of 2021. The MyAHi awards serve as a reward for entrepreneurs who provide job creation opportunities and chambers of commerce who think out of the box to assist their members.

The winners of the honors will be introduced at the gala event at the Protea Marriott Hotel in George. This will be followed by a congress the next day at the same place.

“With the congress, we will get the best experts to shed light on what the future chambers of commerce look like, as well as the transformation process,” says Cilliers. “We will also discuss the role those small businesses play in the economy.”

Christo van der Rheede, executive director of Agri SA, will be the guest speaker during the gala event and will also join a panel of experts during the panel discussion during the congress.

Tickets for this glamorous event will still be available.

Chambers of commerce and emerging chambers of commerce

The digital entry form for the MyAHi Chamber of Commerce of the Year competition is now open. A new category called Emerging Business Chamber of the Year was also added. All chambers of commerce are welcome to enter online.

Small and hospitality businesses, start-ups, farmers

During the coronavirus pandemic, the MyAHi saw how business owners and small-scale farmers went out of their way to tackle everyday challenges with innovative ideas. The winners will benefit from numerous media exposure and receive prizes.

Do you have what it takes to be named the MyAHi Small Business of the Year, MyAHi Startup Business of the Year, MyAHi Small Farmer of the Year or the MyAHi Hospitality Business of the Year? Click here to apply online.

The digital poll closes on Monday, 24 October, at midnight. Afterwards, the winners of each category will be announced at the prize-giving on Thursday, November 3.

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