The Local Legends category awards are merit-based awards, based on a continuous assessment of active members' development over the course of a year. We encourage sponsors to come in and sponsor specific awards based on their own areas of business (e.g. accounting firms may sponsor awards for accounting & internal controls, insurance companies may sponsor risk management, medical aid may sponsor employee wellness etc). The aim behind the category awards is to encourage members to adopt best practice in the relevant areas. Sponsoring organisations will be featured prominently at the awards ceremony, and will present the specific award(s) to the winners.
Transition / Graduation
- Awarding criteria: Businesses that have graduated from small to medium, or medium to large
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential Sponsors: Any corporation / industry interested in promoting SME growth/development
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Customer Service
- Awarding criteria: Awarded to member voted the best in customer service by other members as well as their own customers on the Business Directory
- How selected: Selected through ratings and reviews posted for the member on their Business Directory entry, as well as other third party endorsements.
- Who will sponsor: Customer service-oriented organizations which deal with SMEs.
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Product Quality
- Awarding criteria: Quality standard attainment, or subjective assessment of product / service
- How selected: Attainment of quality certification (ISO, SAZ etc), nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, nomination by customers, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Quality-conscious large corporations, or organisations providing quality assurance services
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Branding
- Awarding criteria: Vibrancy, appeal and distinctiveness of branding, in all aspects (i.e. product packaging, location, stationery, marketing e.t.c)
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, nomination by customers, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Advertising agencies, large retailers, brand-conscious organisations etc.
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Accounting & Internal Controls
- Awarding criteria: Best progression in terms of instituting accounting systems as well as internal controls in your organization.
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, nomination by other members providing accounting & internal control services, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Accounting / audit firm, accounting systems vendors, consultants e.t.c
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Compliance
- Awarding criteria: Best progression in instituting compliance with statutory and other regulations into your business.
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Accounting / audit firm, consultants, government agencies (ZIMRA, NSSA e.t.c)
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Risk Management
- Awarding criteria: Best progression in terms of instituting insurance cover and other risk management measures in your business
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Insurance companies, brokers, medical aid, consultants
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Employee Wellness
- Awarding criteria: Best progression in terms of instituting employee wellness practices, such as medical aid, funeral cover, training e.t.c
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, nomination by employees or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Insurance companies, brokers, medical aid schemes, consultants
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Corporate Governance
- Awarding criteria: Best progression in terms of instituting best corporate governance practice (e.g. installing board of directors, appointing auditors e.t.c)
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Banks, venture capital firms, accounting firms, consultants, organisations in the governance space etc
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Community Impact
- Awarding criteria: Best progression in terms of embedding corporate social responsibility practices into your business
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, nomination by community members or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Any industry with special interest in corporate governance, greening, environmental issues e.t.c
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Innovation
- Awarding criteria: Most innovative products, or product refinements made by a member, as well as employing best practice in protecting intellectual rights.
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Lawyers, IP practitioners, financiers, investors e.t.c
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Sustainable Business
- Awarding criteria: Incorporation of “green” practices into your business in a sustainable manner for both the environment as well as the business.
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Development agencies, NGOs or other entities with special interest in greening, environmental issues e.t.c
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Exporting
- Awarding criteria: Greatest improvement in export turnover, as a percentage, over the year. Where base is zero, then absolute increase in turnover will be used. Progress towards development of export markets will also be considered.
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Export agencies, corporate sector
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Self-Development
• Awarding criteria: Attendance at training sessions, as well as implementation of training recommendations.
• How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on participation in training programs as well as implementation of training recommendations, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
• Potential sponsors: Banks, financiers or organisations in the development space
• Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Networking
- Awarding criteria: Attendance and contribution at Business Strategy meetings, networking events, networks built with other members and related.
- How selected: Nomination by Member Consultant based on observations, nomination by other members, or self- nomination followed by vetting process
- Potential sponsors: Open sponsorship
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category
Recognition Awards
- Awarding criteria: Members who have been with the Association at least five years.
- How selected: SMEAZ records
- Potential sponsors: Open sponsorship
- Eligibility: Any paid-up member in small or medium category