Sanlam and Business Partners award SA’s top entrepreneurs

Four of South Africa’s top entrepreneurs were recognised for their entrepreneurial excellence at the Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year ® 2010 awards in Sandton last night. Overall winner Martin Beyers, whose company CERadvance Engineering Ceramics creates innovative solutions for specific industrial problems, was picked from 331 entries and 15 finalists. Category winners were, emerging business: Lovely Letsoalo of Wespark Itumeleng Pharmacy; small business: Martin Brown of Radical Mobility and medium business: Theo Bakkum of Awesome Snacks.

The 2010 competition, run by Business Partners and sponsored by Sanlam, was open to South African entrepreneurs across all sectors and aimed to recognise, encourage and nurture entrepreneurship in South Africa. Judges were adv Kobus Engelbrecht from Sanlam, Lorraine Nakene from Business Partners, Dr Kerrin Myers from WITS Business School, Ferose Oaten entrepreneur and vice president of the BWA and Stefan Beyers of Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Jan Steenkamp, executive head of Cobalt Solutions – the division within the Sanlam Group that caters to the financial needs of business owners – says the standard in the competition was exceptional. “The competition has clearly demonstrated that, despite there being a need for increased entrepreneurship to boost SA’s economy, there is already a very healthy culture of business ownership in South Africa.”

He said feedback from the judges was that the winning entrepreneurs were especially adept at overcoming adversities, rising to challenges, employing vision, creativity, innovation, careful planning, passion and hard work. “We hope these tales encourage other aspiring entrepreneurs to take the entrepreneurial leap and turn their ideas into reality.”

Nazeem Martin, managing director of Business Partners Limited, believes that the skills needed for an entrepreneur to succeed in the competitive global village were clearly visible in the bulk of the entries received in 2010. “Key qualities required are entrepreneurial abilities, marketing skills, product or service excellence, management skills and good corporate citizenship. Entrepreneurs must also be able to multi-task. All these qualities were clearly displayed by the candidates we considered as finalists.”

Winner Martin Beyers’ company CERadvance Engineering Ceramics designs, manufactures and supplies oxide ceramics and had an increased turnover of 165% over the last two years. He was named overall winner because his company is an emphatic leader in the ceramic industry, where it makes a significant contribution to the petrochemical, steel and mining sectors by creating innovative solutions for specific industry problems. His niche ceramic products replace older technology in the industries where he operates. Beyers’ prize money amounted to R100 000.

In the emerging business category, Lovely Letsoalo, founder of Wespark Itumeleng Pharmacy stood out for her exceptional business performance as well as her commitment to the community. Starting with a dream of giving residents in the area access not only to medicine, but also to the service that one expects from a family pharmacy, Letsoalo turned an abandoned post office into a pharmacy in 2008. Within two years her company was showing a profit and, over the past year, her turnover increased by 137%.

Small business winner Martin Brown of Radical Mobility designs, manufactures and markets power wheelchairs. Brown is paralysed from the neck down and he believes that this gives him a deep understanding of the unique needs of this customer and thus, a competitive advantage. The judges felt that Brown’s commitment to innovation and his forward thinking gave him the edge in the category.

Snack and confectionery manufacturer, Awesome Snacks, took on the big brands and beat them at their own game. By producing a number of naks and curls, as well as powdered drinks, owner Theo Bakkum built up a significant business over seven years, with turnover increasing 350% over the last six years. This success placed him at the top of the medium business category.

Each of the category winners receives R20 000 in prize money.

Emerging business category winner: Lovely Letsoalo
Wespark Itumeleng Pharmacy

Small business category winner: Martin Brown
Radical Mobility

Medium business category winner: Theo Bakkum
Awesome Snacks