The categories in question are the
2023 National Small Business Champion and the
Special Awards category, while
HOT 102.7FM founder and managing director Lloyd Madurai has been honoured in the
National Entrepreneur Champion category.
The National Small Business Chamber (NSBC) is a non-profit membership organisation established in 2007.
Its purpose is to "foster the sustainability and growth of the SME sector, driving job creation, alleviating unemployment and nurturing the country's entrepreneurial spirit. The NSBC is committed to helping SMEs to grow, learn, network, connect, be inspired, succeed and have fun".
The organisation says that it has 156 000 members across South Africa, focusing on businesses with up to 250 employees.
"This is just the icing on the cake for us, particularly because
HOT 102.7FM prides itself on being a champion of small business in South Africa," says Madurai. "So, these awards mean a lot, but they also mean that what we set out to achieve just over two years ago when we launched is on track, and we've made a significant impact in a short space of time. This is while thriving in some of the most difficult times to be a small business in South Africa."
Adding to the sense of celebration was the news that
HOT 102.7FM's head of news Tara Penny had been honoured at the
Brave Journalism & Media Awards alongside
Hot Cares board member and investigative journalist Devi Sankaree Govender.
The awards say they celebrate journalists and media personalities from across the country and honour them for their bravery in taking risks, investigating and asking tough questions.
"Absolutely well deserved," says Madurai. "Penny has been with us for only 18 months but in that time has had a huge impact on how
HOT 102.7FM delivers its news content. Penny brings professionalism, tenacity and attention to detail that has just elevated the standard of our news and made it one of the most credible news sources in radio."
This follows
HOT 102.7FM being named
Best Local Radio Station at the
Best of Joburg Readers Choice Awards recently, along with the
HOT 1027 Breakfast winning the
Best Radio Show category. The station also closed October by blowing past its target and raising a whopping R19.4-million in just 12 and a half hours at its annual Teddython charity fundraiser, according to the station.
HOT 102.7FM concludes that it will be looking to add to its awards tally on the second of December when the
SA Radio Awards take place in Johannesburg.
The station has been nominated in 14 categories, including the
Commercial Station of the Year category, while being on the shortlist in the
My Station — Most Loyal Listener category.