The ECIC/Cape Chamber of Commerce Western Cape Exporter of the Year Competition is now in its 27th year and the judges invite any business based in the Western Cape that exports products and/or services to participate.
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JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR COMPANIES THAT

·  Export their products and/or services outside the RSA

·  Are involved in product and/or service improvement

·  Have made a positive contribution to their communities via their business endeavours

·  Have begun to employ more people

·  Are increasing their export turnover

·  Are looking to increase their export base

·  Are looking at creative and innovative ways to export into challenging markets

·  Have made notable achievements in the export field

REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS

·  Must be a registered business in the Western Cape

·  Are currently exporting products and/or services

·  Have been operational for more than three years

ENTRY CATEGORIES

·  Small company (definition of small company in the National Small Business Act)

·  Non-manufacturing company

·  Engineering/manufacturing company

·  Excellence in design

·  Excellence in innovation

·  Excellence in exporting into Africa

·  Transformation of company

THE BENEFITS AND PRIZES

Finalists will be strongly marketed; profiled in the media; receive a finalist certificate; and profiled at the Gala Awards Dinner on Thursday, 2 November 2017.

ENTRY FORM

The final date for submission of applications is Friday, 6 October 2017.

Completed forms may be submitted electronically or as hard copies. Should you choose to submit this document in an electronic format, you are kindly requested to save the final version of the application in a format such as pdf that cannot be altered.

You are welcome, and encouraged to use as much space as you require.

Please note: Entrants who wish to be considered for the Design Award are required, in addition, to complete question 9.

1.  Details of Organisation
Organisation name / Tel No.
Street Address / Suburb
Contact Person Tel No. / Contact Cell No.
Email Address / Website Address
Type of Activity / Manufacturer
(Engineering companies) / Yes / No
Service Industry
(Non-engineering or non-manufacturing companies) / Yes / No
Design / Yes / No
Other / Yes / No
BBBEE Level:
(Please attach a current BBBEE certificate if you wish to enter the Transformation Award.)
Staff Compliment
Please use the last three (3) financial years of your Organisation to complete the questions below
Number of Employees / Financial Period ending 2015 / Financial Period ending 2016 / Financial Period ending 2017
Full Time
Part time
Please indicate whether any learnerships have been created? (Include information about apprenticeships, staff development, community development, bursary or subsidy provision plus any other form of learnership).
2. Financial Information: Please send an accompanying letter from your Auditor or Accountant or Accounting Officer to verify your company financials and year-on-year net growth for the last three (3) financial years.
Please indicate the total turnover of the organisation in the last financial year? (please circle your choice)
R0 – R10 mil. / R11 – R30 mil. / R31 – R50 mil. / R51 – R100 mil. / More than R100 mil.
Information for last three financial years / Financial Period ending 2015 / Financial Period ending 2016 / Financial Period ending 2017
Rand value of exports
Export as % of total turnover
% Exports into Africa
Exports into Africa (ZAR Turnover)
3. What are your notable export achievements?
What accolades/ awards did the company receive during the last 24 months?
4. Research and Development: Please supply examples of any steps undertaken to improve quality, such as HACCP, ISO, Fairtrade and Organic Certification.
Please describe the positive impact that R & D has made on the environment, operating efficiency, working conditions and cost savings.
5. Corporate Social Investment: Briefly explain any social initiatives which your company has championed or of which it has been part?
6. What is the strategy to grow the company’s market share? (Please supply export marketing plan or detailed explanation).
7. Innovation: Please give an example/s of innovative breakthroughs in your company.
8. Environmental Impact:
1.  What is the environmental impact of producing the product and/or service and what measures have been taken to reduce this impact? Please include the following in your answer:
a. Electricity, water, waste and or other industrial impacts
b. Innovations and offsets that have been implemented to mitigate these impacts.
2.  Please expand on the care taken in planning freight and distribution to ensure the carbon emissions of transporting the product to their markets are kept to a minimum. Please include the following in your answer:
a.  Sea Freight, Air Freight, Rail and Road
b.  Initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions
3.  How does the product and/or service assist end users to be more energy/water efficient – for example is the packaging biodegradable/compostable?

OPTIONAL*

9. Questions for Design Award Only *
1.  If your product and or service involve new IP (Intellectual Property) has this been registered? (If not why not?)
2.  Describe the design process followed in developing your product and/or services. (Please describe any research / collaborations / special technology trials / innovative production techniques)
3.  How does the design of the product and I or service differentiate it from others in the market?
Please expand on originality/unique selling points etc.
4.  What was the catalyst behind the development of the product and/or service?
5.  Does the company design products/services in-house or do you outsource the design/product development?
6.  What are the main benefits of your product and or service to your clients?
7.  What impact does the product or service have on the environment? How have you factored sustainability into your process?
8.  Please describe why design is an integral part of your business?
.
9.  Please motivate why do you think that your business should win the award?
DECLARATION
I hereby apply for consideration in the ECIC/Cape Chamber of Commerce Western Cape Exporter of the Year 2017 awards. I certify that the particulars given herein, as well as any accompanying documentation, are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I hereby agree to submit to an audit process.
Signed / Date
Name / Designation
Company
Street Address
Telephone No. / Cell No.
Email.

THE TROPHIES:

ECIC/Cape Chamber of Commerce Western Cape Exporter of the Year Trophy

The ECIC/Cape Chamber of Commerce floating trophy is awarded to the company who meets the judges’ criteria for commitment to exporting. All exporters, small or large, stand an equal chance of winning this prestigious top award.

Non-Engineering Trophy

This trophy is awarded to a non-engineering company producing products or services.

Engineering/ Manufacturing sector Trophy

This trophy is awarded to a company in the engineering/ manufacturing sector.

Small Exporter Trophy

This trophy is awarded annually to a small company as defined in the National Small Business Act.

Innovation Trophy

This trophy is awarded to the company that displays the ability to build sustainable revenue through creativity.

Design (Exporter) Award

The winning company will show the use of local design skill expertise as the major component (or distinguishing factor) of the product and/or service being exported and the resulting product and/or service is original, has local flavour, is uniquely South African and shows local fit-for-purpose in a developing country context.

Exporting to Africa Trophy

The winning company will show excellence in the exporting of products and/or services into Africa.

Transformation Trophy

This trophy is awarded to the company that has undergone the greatest transformation as per the BBBEE criteria.

TO ENTER

Please complete the above Entry Form including the Declaration and provide any marketing materials or product examples.

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

·  Entry Form.

·  Examples of products and /or services e.g. brochure or pamphlet, examples of product(s) or electronic marketing material.

·  Proof of turnover i.e. letter from Auditor or Accountant or Accounting Officer.

For any questions

Contact Mary Jean Thomas-Johnson on +27 21 402 4300

PLEASE EMAIL the entries to:

or Mail or deliver to :

ECIC/Cape Chamber Western Cape Exporter of the year Competition 2017

Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

4th floor, 33 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001

THE CLOSING DATE for entries is Friday, 6 October 2017

All entries will be treated in strictest confidence.

Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry / 2