The South African Breweries KickStart Awards have since 1995 nurtured some of this country’s most promising  young entrepreneurs – none more so than the 13 finalists in the 2008  Western Cape  Regional finals.

KickStart, an entrepreneurial development programme aimed at 18- to 35-year-olds from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, is open to those who already have an existing enterprise and would like to improve upon it, or simply have a promising business idea but need the know-how to execute it successfully.

Since its inception in 1995, more than 22 600 young entrepreneurs have benefited from training, mentoring and financial assistance through KickStart – and 86 % of grant winners are still in business.

There were 15 entrants selected for the intensive 2 week programme of which  13 submitted business plans for the competion . The wide variety of these business plans show  that  Western Cape Regional finalists for 2008 are, typically, tackling a wide array of business opportunities, from a lost luggage service to a cake-baking company, and from much-needed information technology enterprises to an HIV/Aids counselling service.

Says Gavin Hudson ,  SAB's General Manager - Cape Region " as a company we continue to be inspired by the Kickstart entrants for each of them have a tale to tell of personal struggle, hardship – and an unbending determination to succeed against the odds. What impresses me most is their passion and determination to grow not only their potential to create jobs for the  people of our country. That is true nation building."

“Year after year our Kick - starters provide us with proof that the young people of our country have a major role to play in growing our economy. They give us hope and show us that we are indeed a country of opportunity despite the global economic hardships we face at present. I would like to wish all 13 of the Cape Region finalists all of the best for not only the awards but for the future as well.”

The 2008 SAB KickStart Cape Region Awards winner will receive a cash grant and  six  months’ of intensive business mentoring, as well as the opportunity to win further cash grants and mentoring at the national KickStart finals next year.