SABC Interview for SA Business Awards

Full Story here : http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/3cb5c8804930a94bb870fbd2cf46f6f9/SA-Business-Club-holds-first-awards-in-London-20111125

The South African Business Club, a networking group in Britain with a membership 2 500 strong, has held it’s first awards in London. Recognising rising stars, women in business, entrepreneurs and innovators.

Held at South Africa’s High Commission, the inaugural South Africa Business club Business awards attracted plenty of participants and key sponsors. Organisers say they wanted to celebrate the achievements of the community in the UK.

Mary-ann Anderson of the South Africa Business Club says: “Even if we are not working within South Africa, we carry the flagship badge and the way we do business and the way we do business as South Africans is always hard-hitting and cutting and I think that shines through in the sort of people we have managed to nominate. “

The 7 award categories include business leader of the year, innovator of the year and rising star.

Organisers of the awards say they hope to make this an annual event

The innovator of the year award was won by a man who three years ago created a personalised text messaging service to try to help people focus on their goals.

“You are looking at people who want to start their own business and currenty have a job or those playing the stock markets or make some kind of changes like that. There is a big fall out rate in this industry and so what they have basically got to be able to do is focus every day towards their goal. So what we have done is bring in a form of text messaging to help people keep their focus every single day,” says Paul Harrison, of MOBIvation.

The organisers of the awards say that with so many of the business community in the UK involving South Africa in their work, either through direct business or philantrophy, the diaspora is a powerful force. Still some, like the winner of the Rising Star award, Achumile Majija, say their future does lie back in South Africa.

“I always say I am on a fact-finding mission, I am here to learn and get as much experience as possible and I will go back to South Africa, whatever I have learnt here I will go back and apply, ” says Majija.

While other nominees like Sello Thornton, believe solid opportunities exist in the UK, despite the economic downturn. “If you can make it in London and the UK you can make it anywhere in the world,” he says.

The organisers of the awards say they hope to make this an annual event, to celebrate the achievements of the South African business community here and their links back home.