BUSINESS NEWS - Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are invited to enter for the 2025 George Business Chamber’s The Entrepreneur Programme. 

With not only prizes to be won, but also the opportunity to gain critical business skills, including mentorship and training, you can’t go wrong. 

The application deadline is 11 July, so interested businesses are urged to submit their entries as soon as possible.

The Entrepreneur is a business accelerator programme that aims to not only find entrepreneurial gems in George and the greater Garden Route, but to develop and support them to sustainable levels of growth. The 2025 programme will run over 10 weeks, during which finalists will be exposed to intensive business modelling through tuition and practical applications.

The competition aims to attract the best SME talent in our region and 20 finalists will be selected to participate. Prizes to the value of R75 000 will be shared by the top three finalists.

Apart from the business development funding and marketing collateral entrepreneurs will receive, The Entrepreneur Programme provides an opportunity for finalists to gain critical business skills, receive mentorship and training, and prepare a comprehensive business plan that will allow them to grow and develop their businesses. A selection of mentors from a wide range of sectors and professions will support the programme through providing guiding and sharing their business acumen.

Any registered business that has been operating in George or the greater Garden Route for more than a year and that has a turnover of less than R6m per year can enter. Application forms are available on www.georgechamber.co.za or at the George Business Chamber offices in York Street, George. Entries must reach the project manager on entrepreneur@georgechamber.co.za before 11 July 2025 to be eligible.

This is the third year that the business chamber will be implementing the Entrepreneur Programme in partnership with Acsa, George Herald, Algoa FM, Safety Solutions Africa, NMU, AHI Western Cape, Envestpro and AP Business Coaching and Consulting.

Some of the key contributors at The Entrepreneur 2025 launch were Browen Johnson, Adéle Potgieter, Johannes Jumat, Servaas de Kock, Brenda Vorster and Kgomotso Aphane. Photo: Jacqueline Herbst