The iLembe Chamber’s The Entrepreneur 2016 competition’s final event and The Entrepreneur Exhibition was held on the 7th of October at The Litchi Orchard in Salt Rock. The event gives an opportunity for The Entrepreneur 2016 finalists to showcase their businesses to the public. The iLembe Chamber’s programme allow finalists to develop marketing collateral to showcase their businesses professionally. The Entrepreneur 2016 competition winners were also announced at the event.

The Mayor of the iLembe District, the Honourable Sduduzo Gumede, was impressed with the diversity of the finalists, which included participants with different backgrounds representing a variety industries from all over the iLembe District.

Patricia and Steffen Schroder from Reclite Recycling were announced as the winners of The Entrepreneur 2016 competition. The judges were impressed with the company’s innovative recycling solution. Reclite recovers and recycles all lighting lamps, such as fluorescent lamps CFLs, HIDs, LED lamps and other associated lamp products.

The 2nd placed runner up was Nosipho Phiri from Ubucwibi Agriculture. Ubucwibi’s organic farming methods and emphasis on developing farming skills for the youth impressed the judges. According to Nosipho, â€œindigenous organic farming is safe and healthy for human consumption.”

The 3rd placed winner was Kerryn Tremearne, the owner of Kapas Baby, an online baby shop which she launched in April 2014. The Kapas baby clothing range is locally made with locally sourced fabric and trims. Kerryn’s vision is grow the business into international markets.

The Entrepreneur 2016 competition provided the tools for finalists to challenge and interrogate all aspects and assumptions about their businesses. The aim of the approach was twofold; to improve the viability and to increase the job creating potential of their businesses. On this journey the finalists were guided by the Chamber’s team of programme tutors and supported by Chamber accredited mentors. The 2016 programme once again used Alexander Osterwalder’s Business Model Canvas to plot a new flightpath for the businesses. The iLembe Chamber is supported in the development and delivery of the theoretical component of the programme by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and USA-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Entrepreneur programme was initiated by the iLembe Chamber six years ago. The aim is to identify and provide entrepreneurs and owners of micro-businesses with a foundation to develop their businesses to a sustainable level. The focal point of the programme is in knowledge and skills transfer, the probing of all aspects of the individual businesses and ongoing mentoring and guidance.

The iLembe Chamber is supported in this flagship initiative by its long standing partners Airports Company South Africa King Shaka International Airport, Enterprise iLembe and the North Coast Courier. 

www.ilembechamber.co.za