FNB, Endeavor launch innovation awards 2015

The awards aim to recognise businesses that continually find innovative ways of conducting business and are a partnership with Endeavor SA. The launch took place at the World Trade Centre on 3 September and present at the awards was Michael Vacy-Lyle, the chief executive officer of FNB Business, who explained the thinking behind launching the awards.

“The purpose of these awards is to recognise the growth that an entrepreneur has achieved for their business and the potential of significant scalability through leveraging the Endeavor network,” he said.

Vacy-Lyle added that FNB understood the need to recognise such businesses and connect them to expert guidance and mentorship, something Endeavor could provide.

South Africa contained a wealth of entrepreneurs, especially in townships and rural areas, but not the kind that was needed in the country, Vacy-Lyle stressed.

“The FNB Business Innovation Awards are an extension of the bank’s commitment to addressing [such] modern business and economic challenges,” he explained.

Also present at the launch was Paul Harris, board member of Endeavor SA, who explained the organisation’s involvement in the awards.

“Endeavor focuses on high scale entrepreneurship and aims to connect innovators recognised at these awards with businesses, which is why we partnered with FNB to host these awards,” he said.

Harris added that such businesses prioritised innovation and thought out of the box continuously, which explained why they have the best chance of success under the current economic conditions

Catherine Townshend, managing director of Endeavor SA said nominations for the award open on 1 October close on 12 December of this year.

The inaugural winner of the innovation awards would be announced in May next year and Vacy-Lyle encouraged innovative businesses “to enter the awards [as they will] inspire them to think bigger”.

Endeavor SA is a global organisation, focused on supporting high-impact businesses and provides entrepreneurs of such businesses with opportunities to move the business to the next level.

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