26 May 2004

WANTED: Kiwi tigers willing to compete on world stage

The hunt is on to find New Zealand’s best entrepreneurs and the exceptional person who will represent New Zealand at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year award. Entries are now open for Ernst & Young’s 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year award – an award that is recognised as the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs and the only global business award operating in New Zealand.

All 2004 entrants receive significant benefits and opportunities from participating, with this year’s winner having the opportunity to represent New Zealand at World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monte Carlo in 2005. Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Director, Carol Campbell, says the awards represent a key reference point for New Zealand’s future as a prosperous, creative and innovative nation.

“We’re looking for New Zealand's best entrepreneurs. The people who have taken risks most wouldn't dream of taking. Whose special qualities have built strong, sustainable, innovative, dynamic business ventures. Successful individuals who are proud of what they have achieved and are ready to build on that achievement. They are the kind of people who could represent New Zealand in this prestigious international award,” says Ms Campbell.

Inaugural New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year winner and Chairman and Publisher of Trends Publishing International, David Johnson, encourages all successful entrepreneurs to consider entering the awards and says his company’s bottom line is still benefiting from his win in 1998.

“Winning the Entrepreneur of the Year title gave me credibility and a critical ‘foot in the door’ in the US, which is now our biggest market,” he says. Mr Johnson says entrepreneurs often receive little recognition for their success “entering Entrepreneur of the Year is an opportunity to stand up and be counted among your peers, and for the winners it’s an amazing pat on the back,” says Mr Johnson.

The five categories for the 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year programme are: Retail, Consumer and Industrial Products Services including Financial Business, Property and Arts Technology, Communications & Biotechnology Young Entrepreneur (entrepreneurs aged 30 or under at the time of close of applications), and Master Entrepreneur (for leaders of well established businesses which have a significant commitment to entrepreneurship)

New Zealand’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner will be announced on 20th October 2004 at an award banquet to be held that evening. The winner will go forward to participate in the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year awards, which will take place in 2005 in Monte Carlo. Entering its seventh year in New Zealand, the programme was launched over 17 years ago by Ernst & Young worldwide to recognise entrepreneurial excellence around the globe.

It now runs in 35 countries and has alumni that includes, distinguished business leaders from around the world. 35 entrepreneurs have received awards to date in the New Zealand Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award programme. These include Colin Taylor (Stirling Sports); Graeme Clegg (BioActive Technologies Ltd); Heidi Ward McGrath (Vetcare Services Ltd); Bill Gallagher (Gallagher Group); Brian Peace (Peace Software); Michael Whittaker (Atlantis Group); Tony Hembrow (Rayglass Boats); Bruce McIntyre (Macpac Wilderness Equipment Ltd); Peter Leitch (Mad Butcher Group); Bill Day (Seaworks); John Hynds (Hynds Pipe Systems); Denis Chapman (Switchtec Power Systems); Jeremy Moon (Icebreaker); Mike Tamaki (Tamaki Tours) and David Johnson (Trends Publishing).

The Entrepreneur of the Year award is a key component of the Entrepreneurial Growth Network, a new initiative being launched by Ernst & Young, which aims to support the growth of New Zealand business.

Through the Entrepreneurial Growth Network, some of New Zealand’s leading entrepreneurs will have access to Ernst & Young research and business insights. The network will also enable the sharing of knowledge, business tools and the joint experience of people who face similar daily challenges in achieving business growth and personal wealth.

Launching the Entrepreneurial Growth Network demonstrates Ernst & Young’s commitment to New Zealand business. Membership of the network follows a face-to-face meeting with an Ernst & Young entrepreneurial services specialist. Once confirmed a member will have access to significant resources - at no cost to them.

These include two business review sessions, access to leading research and thought leadership, a subscription to The Entrepreneur magazine, access to the Entrepreneurial Growth Network website (launch date 1 September) and the opportunity to attend Entrepreneurial Growth Network workshops. Through these channels they will gain access to Ernst & Young’s Growth Driver Model, a global business model based on Ernst & Young’s experience with entrepreneurial companies that provides a useful benchmark for any growing company to map its progress against.

ENDS

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