Port Elizabeth-based engineering business AM Group owner Anda Maqanda was named the winner of South African Breweries’ (SAB’s) youth entrepreneurship programme – SAB KickStart 2013.

Maqanda is a Masters graduate in electrical engineering from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. He established AM Group in 2008 after working in the public and private sectors.

The second place went to Lyle Truter from Cape Town, who owns Tru PVC Products, which specialises in polyvinyl chloride pipe fabrication and fittings; while the third place was awarded to Sasolburg-based Ricardo Hood, who owns SIH Training, which provides training in welding and artisanship.

All the finalists recently ended an intense 12-month individualised mentorship and business development support programme, which formed part of the SAB KickStart competition package.

The independent panel of judges who selected the final three winners commended Maqanda for breaking into a challenging industry and assisting in dealing with a critical skills shortage in the engineering industry.

He was also praised for having improved his business’ operational capability and asset base. Further, the judges commented that he had shown the ability to overcome prejudice in the business world and his maturity as an entrepreneur had grown since entering SAB KickStart.

“It is a proud moment for SAB to celebrate the strides each of the SAB KickStart finalists have made as entrepreneurs, as well as the growth their businesses have experienced during this journey. We are confident that they now have the right tools with which to move into the future in order for them to have an impact on South Africa’s economy and in society,” SAB enterprise development manager Boipelo Nkadimeng commented.

Maqada’s business now employed 15 people after creating an additional ten jobs during the course of the KickStart programme. Truter’s company had created an additional five jobs, bringing total employment to 14 people, while Hood’s business had created an additional 18 jobs throughout the SAB KickStart programme, brining total employment to 23 people.

In total, the programme’s 14 finalists created a total of 68 full-time and part-time jobs in 2013.

As the SAB KickStart 2013 winner, Maqanda would receive a grant for his business of R500 000, as well as an international business-learning trip to Beijing, China, worth R100 000.

Truter and Hood received grants of R250 000 and R150 000 respectively, and international business learning trips to Utah, in the US, and Tokyo, Japan, respectively valued at R100 000 each.