IABC's Gold Quill Awards programme has been the hallmark of excellence in global business communication for more than 35 years. More than 1170 entries were received from 21 other countries around the world, of which only 102 entries received awards. The winners represent the best in organisational communication and will be honoured at the Gold Quill Awards gala on 25 June 2007 at IABC's International Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Words'worth received the same accolade in last year's competition, allegedly making Small Capital the only South African project to have won a Gold Quill Award two years in a row. It is also the third Gold Quill that words'worth has won in just five years.
Words'worth managing member, Ingrid Staude-Griesel, explains that Small Capital is a quarterly publication that provides practical information and advice to almost 290 000 owners of SMEs in South Africa. It is produced on behalf of MWeb Business, Standard Bank, Microsoft South Africa and Cisco Systems.
Words'worth senior content manager, Sophia Dower, elaborates: “The publication is specifically designed to provide concise, easy-to-read guidelines for anyone wanting to start or grow a small or medium business. Recent editions have focused on specific topics such as marketing, Black Economic empowerment, and information technology.
“A recent survey of 600 readers, which generated a 19% response rate, indicates that more than a third of the printed copies are passed on to friends and colleagues. In the same survey, some 90% of respondents stated that the publication had improved their knowledge ‘a great deal' or ‘moderately'. Almost 97% said that it had helped them to understand the specific business challenges they faced.”
Small Capital is currently distributed free of charge through the Business Day Real Business supplement, at Standard Bank branches and via targeted mailings to existing and potential clients of MWEB Business, Microsoft and Cisco Systems. Copies are also distributed to the general public on a subscription basis.
The complete list of 2007 Gold Quill winners is available at www.iabc.com/awards/gq/2007gqwinners.htm.
