2005 Business Awards Kick Started

Early interest and Awards Briefings kick start 2005 Business Awards

North Shore businesses are already signaling strong interest in this year’s Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards launched this month. Awards Facilitators and Enterprise North Shore staff report that many first-time entrants have already indicated their intention to enter. As well, a number of past entrants have expressed their intention to re-enter.

This year, the eighth year of the Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards, four Awards Facilitators will be available by email and telephone, and in face-to-face meetings, for entrants requiring help with the entry process.

Awards Briefings
Entrants are strongly encouraged to attend one of two free Awards Briefings being held from 5pm to 7pm on April 6 and April 14 at Sports House, Oteha Valley Road, Albany. Enterprise North Shore Chief Executive Terry Hoskins says attendees will find out how entering the Awards benefits businesses. As well, they will learn the judges’ criteria for the 12 Awards categories and receive tips on overall presentation.

“Past entrants have reaped extraordinary benefits because they’ve taken the time to find out what’s required to put in a quality entry. Most started the entry process at an Awards Briefing where they met past winners, judges and Awards Facilitators, and many enlist the services of an Awards Facilitator. It’s all about business owners tackling the Awards process with the same degree of business excellence as they demonstrate in the running of their businesses,” Terry Hoskins says.

Past winner now sponsoring Employer of Choice category
Seeby Woodhouse, Managing Director of Orcon Internet, was delighted to win the Westpac Supreme Business Excellence Award in 2004 and has decided to sponsor the Employer of Choice category in 2005.

“I would highly recommend entering the awards even if you don’t expect to win, because the process is valuable in itself. We had a lot of doors open and did a lot of networking as a result of the Awards. Many people signed up with our Internet service because of the profile generated from each year’s entry and our wins.”

Orcon first entered the Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards in 2001 and was a finalist. Feedback from the judges helped the company refine its own systems and it went on to win the Massey University Excellence in Technology category in 2002 and the 3M Excellence in Innovation Award in 2003. Last year Orcon took out the Westpac Supreme Business Excellence Award as well as the Massey University Excellence in Technology and the Vector Best Emerging Business Awards.

Business confidence
Bruce McLachlan, General Manager Business for Westpac, says when businesses enter the Awards they are indicating a willingness to be judged alongside their peers and others from different industries.

“By just entering into the Awards, a business is sending out a strong signal that it is operating with confidence. We know from Westpac’s wide involvement with business awards throughout the country that the entry process in itself is a superb way for businesses to analyse their successes, discover areas still to be strengthened and enhance team building.”

2005 categories
Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards 2005 categories are:

Clearlite Excellence in Service Delivery Award

ACC ThinkSafe Workplace Safety Award
Actionmail Excellence in Marketing Award

Chelsea Sugar Excellence in Exporting Award

Massey University Excellence in Technology Award

3M Excellence in Innovation Award

North Shore Times Community Contribution Award

Smales Farm Excellence in Environmental Management Award

Alliance Construction Best New Start-up Business Award

Vector Best Emerging Business Award

North Shore City Council Excellence in Tourism Award

Orcon Internet Employer of Choice Award

Category winners are eligible for the Westpac Supreme Business Excellence Award 2005.

Businesses wishing to register for an Awards Briefing should telephone Enterprise North Shore on 09 414 1341 or email awards@ens.org.nz

Awards information is at www.ens.org.nz/awards. The closing date for entries is June 23.

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