MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – An annual event to be marked on all calenders is the Soutpansberg Entrepreneurs Week, which will be hosted from 2 until 4 October. The closing date for entries for the Bright Sparks Entrepreneurs Competition is August 30.

The vision of the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce with the Bright Sparks Entrepreneurs Week is the empowering of our youth and region to develop entrepreneurial business and managerial skills.

This week consists of an entrepreneurs competition for schools countrywide, two days of seminars and workshops by professional speakers in all fields of expertise, and an entrepreneurs market. An entrepreneurs market replaces the street market of last year, with ample entertainment hosted at the beautiful Indigenous Tree Park on Friday, 3 October.

The Bright Sparks Entrepreneurs Competition is presented in three categories, namely Primary School, Secondary School and youth between the ages of 19 and 23. Existing businesses must submit a comprehensive business plan, including an income and expenditure statement, and photos of their product(s) or services as one package to the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce.

In the case of a fictitious business, the ideas must be properly motivated and well researched in the business plan. The overall first, second and third prizes will be R3 000, R2 000 and R1 000. The school with the highest number of entries, in relation to their learner numbers, will receive R10 000.