This award celebrates small, medium and micro enterprises across all sectors, who have displayed both growth and a dedication to empowerment. This category will be measured against the five pillars of empowerment, as per the B-BBEE scorecard. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R5 - R34 million and must post a year-on-year turnover growth of 20% in the last financial year. To qualify, entrants must also have either a Level 1 – 4 scorecard or 50.1% black ownership. The company must be in operation for more than two years.

Your entry should include:

• Evidence of your empowerment status
• Demonstration of company growth and performance
• Details of the company’s vision for empowerment

This award goes to an organisation that demonstrates a proven commitment to job creation and stimulation of the local economy via government spending on goods and services that have been produced locally or have local value add. Localisation policy is guided by the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework and deals with public procurement by the state. The winning entry will provide evidence of local job creation and successful, sustained growth of goods and services production via government funding. The winning entry will need to demonstrate an empowerment status with Level 1 – 4 scorecards. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Evidence of B-BBEE scorecards and policies
• Details of job creation and provision of goods and services as a result of government spending
• Demonstrate plans for growth and scalability

This award goes to an organisation that demonstrates excellence in implementing the 3 pillars of ESG: Environment, Social and Governance. The winning entry will be a company that has a proven track record in policies and practices that focus on

1. Environmental impact

2. Social impact for staff and community

3. Good Governance

The company will have an empowerment status with Level 1 – 4 scorecards. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Evidence of the B-BBEE scorecards and policies
• Details of company performance as a result of ESG programmes
• Demonstrate projects with a commitment to sustainability through implementing the 3 pillars

This category celebrates a company in the technology and communications sector that has developed technology-based innovation to improve productivity, price, quality, effectiveness, and efficiencies. At the heart of this company’s solutions is a drive to improve the competitiveness of the South African economy. This award is open to companies that have developed an internal system or a product available to the public. Award winners will not only need to show a track record of empowerment but also that their solutions advance industry. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Evidence of innovative technology solutions
• Demonstration of how your solutions have transformed industry
• Examples of empowerment programmes and policies

This category is open to national and provincial government departments, parastatals, and nonprofit agencies. The award winner will demonstrate significant black empowerment, from employee level to suppliers. They will also have demonstrated successful programmes and policies that encourage empowerment and serve as an inspiration to others. This award celebrates leaders that show accountability and commitment to developing previously disadvantaged individuals. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R50 million

Your entry should include:

• Evidence of successful programmes and policies
• Demonstration of empowerment among staff and suppliers
• Examples of committed leadership promoting empowerment

This category recognises organisations that show a commitment to growing the economy through empowering black-owned businesses. Entrants must demonstrate policies that accelerate the development and sustainability of suppliers, particularly small enterprises and emerging businesses. The winning entry will have to demonstrate the impact of their programmes on their suppliers’ business success. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Details of company turnover (R35 million and above) and investment into skills development
• Evidence of solutions to growing black-owned supplier companies
• Demonstration success of programmes on supplier profitability or productivity.

This category is for companies that celebrate diversity across all levels of employees. This award is not just for those businesses that empower women; it’s for companies that embrace multiculturalism and inspire their employees to create an inclusive workplace. An award-winning entry will show diversity in preferential recruitment policies, skills development programmes and a representative workplace. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Examples of your recruitment policies and skills development programmes
• Details of gender empowerment projects and proof of their success
• Demographics of your company and examples of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Details of the company’s vision for diversity, equity and inclusion.

This award celebrates innovative learnerships and skills programmes that support empowerment. These programmes will focus on youth development and promote career advancement for black employees. The winning entry will be an organisation, with revenue above R35 million, that invests at least 2% of its payroll into skills development for black employees. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Details of company turnover and investment into skills development
• Evidence of effective and sustainable skills development programmes and policies
• Demonstration success of skills development programmes for black employees

This award goes to an organisation that demonstrates excellence in implementing the seven pillars of empowerment. The winning entry will be a company that has recorded improved financial performance along with a commitment to empowerment and will need to demonstrate a robust empowerment status with Level 1 – 4 scorecards. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue of R100 million and above.

Your entry should include:

• Demonstration of the company’s empowerment programmes - including supply chain imperatives
• Examples of empowerment successes and advances
• Details of the company’s vision for the pillars of empowerment [Ownership, Management Control, Skills development, Enterprise development and Socio-Economic Development (Social Responsibility)

This category celebrates organisations with a passion for rural development, and that can demonstrate that they have improved the living conditions of disadvantaged and black communities. The award will go to a company that invests more than just funds into projects, using their overall knowledge, resources and reputation to improve the lives of the disadvantaged. Organisations will be required to demonstrate their efforts in SED while proving their knowledge of best practices. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Details of company turnover (above R35 million) and investment into SED
• Evidence of solutions investment into rural development
• Demonstration success of investments on the community upliftment and organisational performance
  

Companies that are committed to creating meaningful employment are ideal candidates for this category. This award celebrates organisations that have contributed toward reducing the country’s high unemployment rate, through programmes that give participants meaningful work experience and improved employment prospects. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Demonstrate the company’s commitment to alleviating poverty
• Details of work experience programmes and the candidates participating in them
• Evidence of the success of programmes in creating employment
  

This category is open to organisations that empower youth, with a focus on training and providing funds for small business development. Government departments, corporate business, labour and civil society organisations are eligible for this award. The winning award will need to demonstrate youth empowerment along with a passion for creating economic opportunities. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R35 million

Your entry should include:

• Demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to youth development
• Details youth skills development or funding programmes
• Evidence of the impact of these programmes
  

This category is open to leaders in national, provincial, and local government departments, parastatals and other public sector agencies. The winning entry will go to an individual who has achieved outstanding results in the last year, because of excellent financial management and environmental and sustainable Development. This award will go to an inspirational leader who not only meets business targets but also shows innovation in fulfilling their service delivery mandate. This category is for leaders who believe in impacting South Africa’s economy positively. Individuals under administration will not be eligible to enter. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R50 million Award

Your entry should include:

• Details of results in the last 12 months, and how you achieved them.
• Evidence of the programmes you have implemented to improve your organisation’s performance
• Accounts from peers detailing your leadership skills

Calling all black executives under 40 years old – this award celebrates your hard work, dedication, and outstanding results. This category showcases the achievements of young black executives, who can demonstrate their outstanding contribution to the organisations’ success and performance. The winner will not only boast excellent results but will also show leadership skills and a track record of conceptualising and implementing innovative strategies and solutions. Eligible young achievers will need to show evidence of their career journey while climbing the corporate ladder in companies with an annual turnover of R50 million or more.

Your entry should include:

• Details of successfully implemented programmes
• Evidence of your impact on your organisation’s performance
• Accounts from employers and peers detailing your leadership skills and value to the company

The award celebrates an inspirational individual who is passionate about empowerment and building an enterprise that reflects that. This award will go to an individual with a track record of excellence in their field of business. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R5-35 million in a business that is older than two years and must employ at least ten people. The winner will have proven financial growth alongside demonstrable empowerment policies.

Your entry should include:

• Evidence of turnover and financial growth
• Details of programmes and policies that promote empowerment
• Anecdotal evidence from employees and peers detailing your passion for empowerment

This award celebrates those at the helm of large organisations, who use their leadership positions to inspire others and promote empowerment. This category is open to leaders of significantly sized organisations that generate revenue of more than R100 million per annum. The winner will need to demonstrate a passion for B-BBEE through the strategic implementation of enterprise development, social-economic development, skills development, and employment equity programmes. These programmes will need to show beneficial business performance. Eligible companies must have an annual revenue R50 million

Your entry should include:

• Evidence of the B-BBEE programmes you have championed
• Details of company performance as a result of these programmes
• Accounts from employees and peers detailing your leadership skills