Laura Reynolds - CEO of Recruitgroup, last night was announced as Winner of the Standard Bank Top Women Awards in the Top Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 category. Laura has implemented exemplary vision, innovation, leadership and direction in the past eight years to create a business that has flourished to become an award-winning leader in the industry both as a service provider and as an employer. Laura's dedicated service and passion for her business has created a unique, positive and dynamic working environment that not only continuously grows its own people but fosters a culture that is respected and admired by clients, candidates and employees. Last night this dedication was recognised at a lavish gala event held at Emperors Palace.

Says Laura: "It is an absolute privilege not only to win but just to be nominated in a category with such incredible business women. These women are leaders in their industry and it is most humbling to be announced as the winner. I am so proud of my team at Recruitgroup on what we have achieved together and I thank them for their hard work and dedication as well as all at Topco Media for hosting such a fantastic event." 

In collaboration with the Top Women publication, the Top Women Awards is a prestigious event in which inspirational female leaders are celebrated for outstanding performance in the world of business and government. 

This year, over 160 companies from a range of different sectors, including agriculture, science and technology, transport, and retail, have entered the awards. In order to be shortlisted, as a finalist companies must meet certain criteria, like have an annual turnover of R35 million, 30 percent female staff, 10 percent and above female senior management, and one to 1.5 percent of per capita is spent on skills development for women in the industry. 

"Judging the entrants to the Top Women Awards is such an eye-opening experience because it gives a window into just how much is being done to help uplift women in South Africa," says Topco Media's Managing Editor, Nick Krige. 

Recruitgroup is one of the largest privately owned recruitment organisations in South Africa in finding and placing top talent. 

With the current recession and reportedly South Africa in billion’s rand of debt including major corporations and banks feeling the pinch it has left our economy in bad state of financial affairs, which business owners and government aren’t willing to admit. The solution XTI Recoveries a debt collection firm with a unique approach to debt collection believes that businesses and government need to use debt collection as a means of recovering debt.

After a recent survey XTI Recoveries has found speaking to accountants and ex directors how businesses are dealing with losses and the shocking response? They either write off debts or hand over matters to attorneys which take months to recover adding on thousands of rand’s to have the debt recovered which is leading to liquidations and insolvency indicators of unpaid debt. The number of voluntary business liquidations increased by 71 % in 2014‚ while compulsory liquidations increased by 20 % over this period. This left XTI Recoveries puzzled why, would a business that currently has debt, create more debt, and the answer?

Business owners aren’t educated about the benefits of debt collectors nor do they trust them with their “bad books”.In the USA the leading economy President Obama has included in legislation the grave need and financial benefits of debt collectors towards the economy. “U.S. debt collection agencies were estimated to directly create $495 million of federal tax, $289 million of state tax and $221 million of local tax, for a combined tax impact of more than $1 billion.”XTI Recoveries believe that their unique business model and approach to debt collection is the future to minimize debts for the economy.

South Africans especially SME’s and start ups need to be educated about the benefits of debt collection. As SME’s and start ups are crucial future economic contributors to the economy. SME’s currently contribute 70% towards job creation, XTI recoveries feels strongly about assisting SME’s in minimising debt. 

For queries contact XTI Recoveries on:
Notes for editor Christi will be available for interview or any further queries upon scheduling

Contact details:
Christi Du-Plooy (owner)
Tel: 011 794 9877
Mobile 082 073 0594
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Business & Professional Women (BPW SA), and the Department of Trade & Industry (the dti) are hosting a business breakfast on 7th August 2014 to launch a unique 3-day Women’s Empowerment Programme in South Africa to provide registered SME’s with the legislative knowledge required to effectively run their business within the parameters of South African law.  

The breakfast is hosted by DDG Mr Mojalefa Mohoto and DDG Mrs Pumla Ncapayi from the DTI and BPW South Africa as well as senior representatives from the JSE and UN-Women and the Commonwealth Business Council.  Various international Ambassadors and High Commissioners will host tables at the event.  A sponsorship fund will be launched at the breakfast for qualifying enterprises.  

Organisations of all sizes in South Africa need to develop and apply sound governance, risk and compliance principles and institute high ethical values. Failure to do so will have devastating consequences for the organisation, including penalties.   For SMEs, the biggest challenge is a lack of understanding around the difficulties associated with becoming compliant.   Understanding the ever-changing regulations makes the difference between a small business thriving – growing the economy and creating jobs – or closing its doors, and thus closing the door on job creation.  

Simply put, you need to know your laws. Know your rights and obligations. In this way you mitigate risk to yourself, your business, your employees and your customers. If done well, it helps to improve business performance and ensure financial success.   If you would like to be part of this Women’s Empowerment Programme, we invite you to join us at this Business Breakfast – tickets are R500 per person or R5000 per table of 10.   

For more information, or to attend the Business Breakfast,
please visit our website at http://www.bpw-jhbsa.co.za/index.php/events/30-future-events/98-business-training-courses.
Website: www.bpw-jhbsa.co.za

{pp}Gauteng based entrepreneur support initiative Rival Pioneers is hosting a workshop to assist start-up entrepreneurs navigate the maze of bootstrapping their small business.

{pp}Lutho has taken SMEs unique financial circumstances into account by providing a service that will give them the freedom to “hire” a website without stretching their budget.

The biggest advantage to this is that no long term contract needs to be signed and customers are allowed to cancel their subscription at anytime. All the developing costs are spread over the whole base of Lutho’s “subscribers”.

{pp}Lutho, the South African based online marketing company today officially launched a unique website wizard that will make it possible for aspiring entrepreneurs and small and medium sized business (SME) owners to get their own professional-looking website and a company-branded email address in less than two hours.

{pp}DLK Group has launched a new division to focus on the information technology infrastructure needs of small to medium-sized enterprises. It will be managed by Ricardo Williams, who has been instrumental in structuring integrated network solutions for DLK’s clients in provincial and local government.