Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards

Media Release

21 April 2008

Young entrepreneurs and environmental caretakers to be recognized in Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards

Two new categories in the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards seek to recognize the new faces of business:

The title of Manukau's Young Business Person of the Year will go to a business owner or employee aged up to thirty years, who has either successfully built their own business, or had an outstanding impact on the success of a business.

"Young business leaders are our city's economic future, says Manukau Mayor Len Brown. "Our economy will only continue to succeed if they are aiming high."

The Excellence in Environmental Management category recognizes a company that demonstrates the highest level of commitment to continuous improvement in ensuring they don't have negative impact on our environment.

"Environmental issues are becoming more important than ever, and for business it is a key challenge. Sustainability is important for everybody, this award offers recognition to businesses making particular effort in this area," Mr Brown says.

Contenders will be hoping to join past winners in the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards in going on to achieve national and international recognition. These companies include Downer EDI Works Limited, Rayglass Boats, Epic Packaging, Villa Maria Estate, tourism retailer Kiwi Discovery, and Styrobeck Plastics Limited.

The 2008 programme promises several new categories, including those young entrepreneurs and environmental management in addition to ten others rewarding emerging companies, excellence in employment, exporting, manufacturing, innovation & strategy, service delivery, tourism, workplace safety and community contribution. Both the Westpac Manukau Business of the Year and the winner of the Manukau Small Business of the Year will be selected from the elite of these categories.

Sponsors of the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards include the Wiri Licensing Trust, Brookfields Lawyers, EMA, COGITA, Auckland International Airport Limited, Prince & Partners, Hubbard Foods Ltd, ACC and the Manukau Community Foundation. Manukau City Council and Westpac are the major sponsors of these awards, which are delivered on behalf of the council by Enterprising Manukau. Manukau City Council began the awards 16 years ago to recognise, encourage and assist business growth and development.

Business managers and owners interested in entering the Awards should visit www.bizawards.co.nz or phone 09 262 2244.

ENDS

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