Youth entrepreneurship competition call for entries
Young entrepreneurs who are looking for an opportunity to showcase their talents, can now enter the South African Breweries’ (SAB) youth entrepreneurship development programme, SAB KickStart.
The 2014/15 competition is open to entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35.
SAB KickStart was started in 1995, and has assisted more than 3 500 start-up entrepreneur businesses.
Entrants selected to participate in the 18-month long programme will stand a chance to win part of R6-million worth of business support, including an international business learning trip.
SAB KickStart follows a competition model and provides youth entrepreneurs running small businesses with a comprehensive package of business development support, to increase the chances of building sustainable and high-impact entities able to contribute towards job creation.
In 2013, SAB KickStart’s 14 national finalists created more than 60 jobs within their respective communities.
The business development support package includes business skills training, a business development strategy, grant funding and personalised mentorship.
“By providing this comprehensive business support, we believe we can make a significant contribution to growing high-impact businesses that are sustainable beyond the normal failure period of three years,” says Boipelo Nkadimeng, SAB head of Enterprise Development and Community Partnerships.
The recruitment phase selects 60 entrants, who are provided with intensive business skills training over a period of two weeks.
This takes place in Johannesburg, between July and August 2014.
During this training, participants are shown how to develop an effective business plan. The best of these plans are selected by an independent adjudication panel and entrepreneurs go through to final and national stages of the competition.
An in-depth needs analysis of each finalist’s business is undertaken and this determines the design of a business development strategy, grant funding and customised mentorship.
Entries into the competition close at midnight on May 30. Successful candidates will be invited for a selection interview.
To enter SAB KickStart, visit www.sabkickstart.net, contact 011 881 8493, or e-mail kickstart@za.sabmiller.com.
For the latest SAB KickStart news, follow them on Twitter at @SAB_KickStart, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/SAB KickStart.
