A R300 million fund for small and emerging contractors opened this year, aimed at moving smaller firms up the contracting pipeline. Noko Ramasenya has
A R300 million fund for small and emerging contractors opened this year, aimed at moving smaller firms up the contracting pipeline. Noko Ramasenya has built one without that support and has now been shortlisted for South Africa’s Entrepreneur of the Year® title.
Ramasenya is in the running for the Small Business Entrepreneur category in the 38th annual Business Partners Limited competition. She founded Noleo Projects in 2016 and owns the Benoni-based construction and civil engineering company outright.
The business covers a wider range than most contractors its size, spanning civil engineering, construction, building maintenance, renovations, facilities management, project management, electrical and plumbing work and engineering, design and architectural services. Its clients are industrial rather than public sector, including Ardagh Glass Packaging, Tharisa Minerals and Mpact Plastics. Ramasenya has grown the business through tendering, referrals and repeat work rather than advertising.
Noleo employs 12 people permanently and another six on a temporary basis. Four in five of them are under 35. The company prioritises local labour and subcontractors on its sites and mentors employees into the trade through on-the-job training.
“Getting an industrial client like a glass packaging plant or a mine to trust a contractor with their site is difficult for any small firm and harder in a sector that has not made much room for women who own the business rather than work on it,” says Gugu Mjadu of Business Partners Limited.
The finalists will now compete for top honours in their respective categories and for the overall title of South Africa’s 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year®. The Job Creator, Innovator and Impact Entrepreneur of the Year titles may also be conferred at the judges’ discretion.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony this month. They will share in award prizes designed to accelerate business growth, including funding, mentorship, technical assistance and business exposure opportunities.
