Lately, it seems big corporations have made honouring the cream of up and coming entrepreneurs a critical part of their ethos. One such entity is Eskom.
Recently the parastatal organised the Eskom Business Investment Competition Awards, which awarded a selection of top businesses in the agriculture, manufacturing and trade and services for their exceptional work in the SMME sector.
After a rigorous process, the adjudicating panel named Regal Quality Products the overall winner and most outstanding business.
Based in Cape Town in the Western Cape, Regal Quality Products produces a range of household cleaning products. Established in 2009, it manufactures beauty soaps and household detergents including dishwashing liquid, household cleaners, washing powder, liquid hand soaps and toothpaste. It supplies independent retailers in the Western Cape as well as Pep stores and Spars nationally.
“This is a fantastic achievement and it probably means I can buy more equipment and in turn create five more jobs,” said owner Allie Parker, a chartered accountant by training.
Registered small and medium black-owned businesses that have been in operation for at least two years in the agriculture, manufacturing and trade/services sector are eligible to enter the competition which has prize winning prizes winning R1.7m worth.
The annual Eskom Competition rewards entrepreneurs for their tenacity and courage by providing them with the opportunity to take their business to the next level.
Eskom Development Foundation CEO Haylene Liberty-Nel said that the competition was established in 2009 in response to the country’s growth and job creation challenges and the understanding that small businesses are key to unlocking economic growth and job creation.
“We are responsible for implementing Eskom’s CSI strategy and a large part of that involves improving the lives of the communities in which we operate. We know that one of South Africa’s greatest challenges is economic growth and the lack of skills and jobs; so we launched a competition that rewards small businesses to help them thrive and in turn create jobs and drive economic growth,” she said.