New Awards Recognise Excellence in Business Suppor

Thursday 7 July 2005

New Awards Recognise Excellence in Business Support

Vero Excellence In Business Support Awards Announced – Thursday July 21

The winners of the inaugural Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards will be announced at a Gala Dinner at The Small Business Expo on Thursday July 21.

Created by small business support sector specialist Sarah Trotman, the awards recognise and celebrate the best in business support and those organisations that contribute to small business growth.

The 32 finalists range are vying for eight categories and one overall award. They range from multinationals to sole traders, and web page designers to banks, publishers and education providers. Four individuals are also named finalists for their peronsal contributions to business support.

Said Trotman: “The SME (small and medium enterprise) sector is so critical to New Zealand. With over one third, 37 per cent or $27,000 million, of the economy’s output generated by SMEs in 2003, a figure forecast to rise, those organisations which offer quality business to business products or services should be recognised.

“The awards will set a benchmark for and recognise excellence in the vital area of supporting and facilitating business growth – vital if the national economy is to prosper,” she said.

With sponsors Vero, the Ministry of Economic Development and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise firmly behind the initiative, the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation has also been brought on board to evaluate the awards.

NZBEF Chief Executive Mike Watson was impressed by the number and standard of nominated entrants.

“The standard has been excellent. I was highly impressed with the quality of candidates. For the first time up with this type of awards, it’s very good to get such a high number of quality applicants,” he said.

Feedback from finalists shows they are delighted with the recognition and well aware of the significant benefits of entering the Awards.

"We're thrilled that the Employment Agreement Builder is a finalist in the Vero Excellence In Business Support Awards. It's already won a TUANZ technology award and we'd love to see it win again,” Andrew Annakin from the Department of Labour said.

The winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner on the evening of Thursday July 21 – held during The Small Business Expo at the Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane.

Limited tickets are available for this black tie event. For more information on the Awards, a list of finalists, or tickets to the Gala Dinner visit www.excellenceinbusinesssupport.co.nz

Vero Excellence In Business Support Award Finalists:

Business (< $10m t/o) One to one offering
John Robertson and Associates – for the provision of workplace survey and analysis
Quantel International Ltd – for business capability building
Designindustry – for using design processes to build business capability
Visible Results Ltd (trading as Atlantis) – for data driven business solutions
Gosling Chapman – for business capability building
Realize Technology – for preparation for market
Jericho Ltd – for email marketing software

Business (< $10m t/o) One on many offering
Home Business New Zealand – for www.homebizbuzz.co.nz website
Unlisted – for its securities trading facility
Business Network International – as a business referral service
Adrenalin Publishing - publishers

Corporate (over $10 million turnover)
CallPlus and Slingshot – telecommunications services
Microsoft New Zealand – small business services
National Bank (Business Banking) – small business services

Not for Profit
Women in Technology – technology support
Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) – business services
Business in the Community – small business services
Rodney Economic Development Trust – economic development
Student Job Search – Auckland Region – job placement service

Education Provider
Open Polytechnic – tertiary training
The Icehouse – business development
ACE Training – computer training
Institute for Strategic Leadership – executive development
University of Otago – Master of Entrepreneurship

Local and Central Government
Manukau Enterprise and Employment Trust – economic development
Venture Taranaki Trust – economic development
Enterprise North Shore – economic development
Department of Labour – employment agreement builder

Individual
Heather Douglas (from Home Business New Zealand)
Alasdair Thompson (from Employers and Manufacturers Association)
Roger Parker (from New River)
Sir James Fletcher (for Business in the Community)

ENDS

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