CAPITAL: The Voice of Business Issue 1, 2015 | Page 67

KwaZulu-Natal winner of The Entrepreneur den Pyramid, with his colleague Nontobeko HOTO: PCB. PRENEUR l business environment ours in the inaugural eneur competition bbie Turrell ENTREPRENEUR Municipality. With R500 000 worth of training, mentorship, advertising and cash as an enticement, the PCB was flooded with entries. Throughout October last year, the 19 finalists, under the guidance of Di Milford and a team of speakers and coaches, were put through their paces on various aspects of business planning, development and administration. Each finalist was paired with a mentor who provided personalised support to help them reach their specific goals and to address their individual business challenges. The participants were advised on strategic planning, financial planning, marketing and business administration. Contributions from such experienced mentors, and a willingness on the part of entrepreneurs to learn constantly, are vital components for building a successful small business environment, said PCB CEO Melanie Veness. “Successful entrepreneurs don’t go it alone and don’t always have all the answers,” said Veness. “They surround themselves with valuable people, and they constantly learn and constantly question. They aren’t afraid to ask others important questions and they aren’t afraid to ask themselves either.” After the finalists’ revised business plans were adjudicated, Wooden Pyramid’s Phila Ngcobo was declared the regional winner at the PCB Annual Banquet on November 7, and later that month he won the KZN title as the PCB representative. The first runner-up in the PCB round was Kaamani Jangali, trading as Izimbali Florist. Jangali began a home-based, family-run florist business in 2008 supplying flowers and floral arrangements, gifts and hampers, and offering floral décor classes. Last year Jangali moved Izimbali Florist to Parklane Shopping Centre, where she now employs four people. The second runner-up was Taryn Govender, trading as TarynG Training, who started her corporate training business in Capital | Issue 1 | 67