Manukau's Best Businesses Prepare

Manukau's Best Businesses Prepare

All around Manukau, dozens of businesses are preparing entries for the prestigious Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards.

The Awards recognise the City's top businesses. Any company, no matter how large or small, can enter, and winners are assured of prestige, profile and recognition.

In 2004, the retail specialist store Kiwi Discovery won the Best Business of the Year Award. As a small company that has focused on excellence in all that they do, director Yong Chan Lee says the Awards have delivered significant benefit to his business. "We couldn't be more delighted with the confidence that our win has provided," he says.

For 2005, the entry categories have been modified slightly to better reflect the make up of Manukau's businesses, but the recipe is still the same: regardless of the type of business, entrants are judged on the fundamentals of doing business, such as business processes, leadership, human resources, customer focus and results achieved -things that all businesses have in common.

The judging process is rigorous: the judging panel includes some of New Zealand's most notable business thinkers, who assess each business and then provide verbal and written feedback.

"Manukau businesses are well-rounded and world class," says Sir Barry Curtis, Mayor of Manukau. "We have over 19,000 business units in the City, many of whom are leading New Zealand companies, and rapid economic growth. The Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards bring the business community together to celebrate all that we have achieved."

At an Awards workshop, Nigel Perkins, Business Manager for Westpac in Manukau, explained to entrants that many of his customers have participated in past Awards programmes. "Simply put it lets you take a big picture, helicopter view of what your company represents. The credibility this gives to your general position in the business community is very worthwhile."

Business managers and owners interested in entering should visit www.bizawards.co.nz or contact Enterprising Manukau on 09 262 2244. Extensive assistance is available to those who require help with their entry preparations.

Yong Chan Lee says that the process of entering the Awards revealed a lot about his business. "It is a rigorous examination of your company that you go through," he said. "It highlights areas where you can improve and gives you credit for the things you do well."

Entries close on 20 June 2005. Finalists are announced on 11 July, and the Awards Gala Dinner will be held at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre on Thursday 18 August.

Sponsors include Brookfields Lawyers, Express International Logistics, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) Inc, Realize Innovation Limited, Westfield Manukau City, Cock & Bull, Kiwi Discovery Limited, ACC, Trust Manukau, Westpac and Manukau City Council.

ENDS

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