Caution on green shoots

Press Release from Bizzone
Re: Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards 2010 – finalists announced

Caution on green shoots

Talk of green shoots and the end of the recession should be taken with caution says Bizzone’s Managing Director, Sarah Trotman.

“What the recession has signalled is a major change to the business landscape and the challenges will continue for some time yet,” says Trotman. “LEAN has become the new buzz word for all in businesses managing themselves through this period. Good management, that has clearly identified the direction of the business, the areas that need working on, and is getting the support in to make these changes, will come through the recession strongly.

“Business needs to remain vigilant on key areas; cashflow, productivity, business culture and innovation. Whilst business owners are continuing to work 25% harder just to stay in the same place, it is the business support organisations such as the professional services, the economic development agencies, the government departments and business mentors that will offer them the help they need now and in the future as they move towards their longer term goals. Overconfidence and a belief that things will get better quickly is naïve and dangerous.”

Trotman urges business owners to seek out the support they need, not to wear the struggles of the business on their own and be open to the new ideas, products or services that will help support green shoots now and in the future. To help business owners identify the best business support Trotman points to the finalists announced today in the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards.

The Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards are held annually to celebrate the best on offer to business in New Zealand. Using the Baldridge Criteria as a framework it focuses the business support organisations on their business performance and on improving their business culture, ensuring their support is “world class”. The Awards are sponsored by Vero and BDO, and are a key event leading up to the annual Bizzone Business Expo, New Zealand's largest event for business. The winners will be announced at a Black Tie Gala Dinner in the Auckland Town Hall on 20 May.

Roger Bell, Chief Executive of Vero Insurance, the Foundation Sponsor of the awards, says, “It is inspiring to see the impressive range of finalists that demonstrate international levels of best practice in their businesses and quality support as a key part of their business. This year there has been a resounding 163 nominations and entries which shows the growing commitment of New Zealand’s business support organisations to excellence.”

The 37 finalists were selected by The New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation which provides an independent and robust evaluation process for the awards’ 10 categories.
“Excellent business support assists New Zealand businesses to build capability and capacity and in doing so they become more competitive and sustainable,” says Mike Watson, chief executive of the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.

Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards Finalists for 2010

BDO Business < $5m T/O One on one Offering
Kerridge and Partners
Escalator Service
The Learning Wave
Life Care Consultants

BDO Business < $5m T/O One to many Offering
Telecommunication Resolution Services
ActionStep
New Zealand Business Forums

BDO Business $5-10M T/O
Designworks
Video Pro
Digital Island

BDO Large Business > $10m T/O
Bartercard
UniServices
The Interface Financial Group
Fuji Xerox New Zealand
Kiwibank
Maclean Computing

BDO Not-for-Profit
Leadership NZ
The Otago Chamber of Commerce
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce
Waitakere Enterprise

BDO Government Local & National
carboNZero programme
EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority)
Inland Revenue
Statistics New Zealand

BDO Education Provider
Leadership NZ
Escalator Service
Life Care Consultants
Ochre Business Solutions

BDO Regional North Island
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise North Shore
The Web Company
GoFi8ure

BDO Regional South Island
The Otago Chamber of Commerce
Enable Networks

BDO Individual
Mike Tournier - carboNzero
Peter Meggison – Kiwibank
Rod Oram - Evanston Enterprises Ltd

See www.bizzone.com/awards for more information

ENDS

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