27 October - Labour - SEDA launches Small Business Stars Competition

In today’s show, we were joined on the line by Denise Dookoo - Marketing & Stakeholder Relations Manager at Small Enterprise Development Agency or Seda Western Cape. Last week Seda launched a Small Business Stars competition, a business plan competition that is aimed at encouraging more entrepreneurial development within the Western Cape. The competition runs until April next year and aims to drive sustainable venture creation by providing small business owners with a more systematic approach to business planning. The judging process will identify 20 national business idea winners and 20 existing business winners, all of whom will receive their share of more than R400, 000 in cash, as well as laptops and Seda business support to the value of up to R60, 000 each. Special prizes will also be presented to the best woman entrepreneur, the best youth entrepreneur, the best disabled entrepreneur and the best “job-creating” entrepreneur. The competition is open to any South African citizen over the age of 18 with a business idea or existing small business. Candidates can register on the competition website, and download the business plan template to prepare their entry. On-line entries will open from the end of October. Entries close on 31 January, 2012. For more information, please visit www.seda.org.za or follow Seda Small Business Stars on Twitter or Facebook.