The Biggest Deal is a youth entrepreneurship competition organised by Theewaterskloof Municipality in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda).
The aim of this developmental programme is to promote, and develop, entrepreneurship among the youth through various business activities over a period of three months. Not only does it build business leadership skills, but also combats unemployment among the youth.
The programme, which started in 2014, was initially aimed at scholars between the ages of 16 and 18, excluding older youth. Elana Lotriet, Local Economic Development officer of TWK, said: “In 2019 we decided to take the programme to the next level, The Biggest Deal Plus, to accommodate scholars as well as young entrepreneurs up to the age of 35. Because of Covid we had to temporarily put the programme on ice, but this year we again went ahead full steam.
“We mentor young entrepreneurs, new as well as existing businesses and supply business development plans. We keep track of their development over a two to three-year period. TWK and various external stakeholders like Seda, banks, and other businesses, are there to help and support them.”
At the Biggest Deal Plus Awards Ceremony, held in the Caledon Town Hall on 17 June, the winners in the new as well and existing business categories were announced.
Prizes to the value of R30 000 and R20 000 were awarded to the winners and runners-up in the two categories. These prizes are in the form of services, equipment and so on.
All the speakers at the ceremony, which included the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, stressed that all the participants were winners in their own right and congratulated them on their achievements. They urged the participants to act as role-models for other young entrepreneurs and hoped that they would share their stories at the next event.
The winners were in the different categories were:. New Business: Luke Williams – Recycle and Waste Management (first place), Brendall Fullard – local butchery in Riviersonderend (second place).. Existing Business: Sacha Wilson – E-commerce platform for small businesses in Villiersdorp (first place), Siyanda Bistol – online clothing business (second place).
