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March 2015

SA PREMIER BUSINESS AWARDS ENCOURAGES ENTRIES

As the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) issues its last call for entries for the third annual South African Premier Business Awards (SAPBA), 2014 winner Maid4U encourages all qualifying enterprises to enter. “It is an opportunity to showcase yourself and your business. Even if you do not win you will still get valuable advice which you can use,” confirms Maid4U’s founder, Lindiwe Shibambo.

Although competition was rife in the 2013/14 South African Premier Business Awards, Maid4U swept up first place in the SMME category. The Awards are hosted by the dti in partnership with Proudly South African and Brand South Africa, and are sponsored by Absa and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). The aim of the Awards is to recognise business excellence, honouring enterprises that strive to create meaningful jobs, while promoting the spirit of success and innovation.

According to Shibambo, winning in 2014 has had an immense positive effect on her business, including a 20% increase in turnover. Various opportunities have been presented to the domestic worker placement agency since its South African Premier Business Awards success; Maid4U has signed more than 500 new clients, possibly as a result of the high level of media exposure received. “I have come out a winner in every sense of the word. Winning a competition of this stature gives your business integrity and builds confidence and trust in your brand,” says Shibambo.

Having developed a relationship with the dti through the Awards, Shibambo is now working with the dti to develop a franchise model. It is expected that this model, which she plans to implement early in 2015, will exponentially grow her business, her capacity to create sustainable employment opportunities and her ability to develop her workforce. An incredible 42 letters of interest have already been received from possible Maid4U franchisees.   


The 2014/15 South African Premier Business Awards will be held in Johannesburg on the 9th of April 2015. Winners are selected based on crucial values and practices, including job creation, good business ethics and a dedication to quality.  The Award categories include: Lifetime Achievement, Manufacturers, Exporters, Enterprise Development Support, Women-Owned Businesses, Young Entrepreneur, Investor of the Year, Proudly South African Enterprise, Play Your Part and SMME.

Entries for the 2014/15 Awards have opened. For more information about the Awards, to view the competition rules or to download an entry form, please visit sapremierbusinessawards.co.za. Due to popular demand, entries have been extended and will close at 16h00 on the 20th of March 2015.

Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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