Vero: Diversity and quality amongst finalists

15 February 2007

Diversity and quality amongst finalists in Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards

Companies from one end of New Zealand to the other feature as finalists in this year’s Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards.

Announced this week by awards’ organisers Sarah Trotman & Associates, the 43 finalists range from Invercargill’s Southern Group Training Trust to the Wellington-based New Zealand Maori Tourism Society and Auckland’s Icon Business Solutions.

Now in their third year, the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards are designed to recognise all the organisations and individuals that provide quality services and products to small-to-medium sized businesses, which make up 96 per cent of all New Zealand’s businesses.

Roger Bell, chief executive of Vero Insurance, the Foundation Sponsor of the awards, says it’s a pleasure to see such a diverse range of companies entering the awards and coming through as finalists.

“From Venture Southland, a highly-regarded regional tourism and economic development organisation, to Auckland-based Orcon Internet, now New Zealand’s fourth largest ISP, the calibre of this year’s finalists is outstanding,” says Bell.

The New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation provides an independent and robust evaluation process for the awards’ 12 categories.

“Finalists in the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards have been able to consistently demonstrate quality across a range of business areas. We are very proud to recognise the growing number of entrants who can show these international levels of best practice in their businesses as we wholeheartedly believe the future competitiveness of New Zealand business lies in quality and a key ‘point of difference’,”says Bell.

“The SME sector is vital to the New Zealand economy, as are the companies and individuals providing support services and products that help keep the many thousands of small business owners competitive and sustainable,” says Sarah Trotman who developed both the awards and the Small Business Expo, the largest event held for business in New Zealand.

“The awards provide a unique opportunity for organisations to benchmark their performance alongside others in their sector. We can see from the range of quality products or services provided by this year’s finalists that these organisations are operating to the highest standards,” says Trotman.

Of particular note with 2007 being ‘Export Year’ is the introduction of a new category, most significant contribution by an organisation to export support.

“Export Year 2007 has a key objective: improving New Zealand’s long term export performance,” comments Minister of Trade Hon Phil Goff. “As a small country we must adopt a ‘New Zealand Inc’approach working together, both government and private sector, to promote our exporters.

“The Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards encourage those organisations which support exporters, and many other businesses, to strive for excellence.

“We congratulate the first four finalists in this important export support category, namely; Better By Design (a design-driven initiative from NZ Trade and Enterprise), Connect New Zealand (assisting companies in the exporting of technology, manufacturing and life sciences), HiFX (foreign exchange risk management) and Kea (the global network of Kiwi expats),” says Goff.

Speaking at last year’s awards dinner, the Hon. Lianne Dalziel, Minister for Small Business, said she was in awe of the tremendous talent, energy and passion that in New Zealand’s SME sector.

“I am grateful to those who have allowed me to share the secret of turning a good idea into a commercial proposition and taking on the world. I have said that SMEs are important to the economy because of their numbers – 96 per cent of all businesses – but it is their unrealised potential that is the key to economic transformation,” said Dalziel.

Trotman concludes: “Whether it’s a not-for-profit organisation like the Pacific Business Trust or a large business with more than $10 million in annual turnover like MYOB NZ Ltd, the single criteria that units all 43 finalists is excellence. We look forward to seeing which finalists win their categories, one of which will go on to be selected as our overall winner, at this year’s awards dinner.”

Previous winners of the Overall Excellence in Business Support Award are The National Bank and the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.

The Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards are presented at a gala black tie event on Thursday 31 May as part of the Small Business Expo at the ASB Showgrounds.

More information about the Small Business Expo is available on www.businessexpo.co.nz

Key facts about SMEs (From a May 2006 Ministry of Economic Development report ‘SMEs in New Zealand: Structure and Dynamics) - As at February 2005, 96% of enterprises employ 19 or fewer people (i.e. are classed as a small to medium size enterprise) - 87% of enterprises employ 5 or fewer people - 63% of enterprises have no employees (i.e. owner/operators) - SMEs accounted for 30% of all employees in New Zealand - 11% of people in the labour force are self-employed - In the 2003/04 year, SMEs accounted for 39% of the economy’s total output - Firms with 5 or fewer employees have the highest average real profits per employee and increased their total real profits by 12% from 2003 to 2004

2007 VERO EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS SUPPORT AWARDS - FINALISTS Those marked * are finalists in more than one category. Total of 43 finalist slots filled by 33 companies

Most significant contribution from a business with less than $5m turnover - one to one offering Mindspring Ltd*, Auckland – training design and delivery company WHK Gosling Chapman Business Growth Team, Auckland – training and coaching services for SMEs Franchize Consultants NZ, Auckland – specialised franchising and licensing development consultancy Icon Business Solutions, Auckland – business growth and strategy coaching and consultancy
Most significant contribution from a business with less than $5m turnover - one to many offering The Results Group*, Auckland – education and inspiration for business owners The Knowledge Gym, Auckland – knowledge workout speaker series Mindz_I Group Ltd, Hamilton – document management and workflow software solutions BNI New Zealand*, Auckland – business referral organisation

Most significant contribution from a business with $5-10m turnover TEQUILA, Auckland – direct marketing agency HiFX Ltd*, Auckland – foreign exchange risk management Neospace International (Commercial Division), Auckland – workplace planning, design and furnishing Dispute Resolution Services, Wellington – conflict management and dispute resolution services
Most significant contribution from a business with more than $10m turnover MYOB NZ Ltd, Christchurch – business accounting software solutions Bartercard New Zealand, Auckland – trade exchange membership service Orcon Internet, Auckland – telecommunication services Wotif.com, Auckland – online booking accommodation service
Most significant contribution from a not-for-profit organisation Southern Group Training Trust, Invercargill – promotion of trade training and employment opportunities EMA Advice, Auckland – compliance, advice and legal services for employers Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch – business support agency Pacific Business Trust, Auckland, Wellington &Christchurch – start-up and growth support services for Pacific Island businesses

Most significant contribution from a local government body Positively Wellington Business, Wellington – economic development agency Dunedin City Council (Economic Development Unit), Dunedin – business support, growth and development services Venture Southland, Invercargill – economic and community development agency

Most significant contribution from a government department Ministry of Social Development, Wellington –income support and employment services Better by Design (NZTE)*, Auckland – design advocacy and integration programme New Zealand Customs Service, Wellington –supply chain security services

Most significant contribution by an education provider The Results Group*, Auckland – education and inspiration for business owners The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Lower Hutt – tertiary education provider Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand, Wellington – adventure based personal learning and development Onehunga High Business School, Auckland –business high school

Most significant contribution by an individual Graham Southwell (BNI)*, Auckland Damian D’Cruz (MindSpring Ltd)*, Auckland Murray Cleverley (Aoraki Development Trust), Timaru

Most significant contribution by a public-private partnership NZ Venture Investment Fund Ltd, Auckland –venture capital and seed co-investment programmes EEO Trust, Wellington – promotion of workplace diversity and employer best practice NZ Maori Tourism Society, Wellington – growth strategies for Maori tourism businesses

Most significant contribution by an organisation to the high growth sector Connect New Zealand*, Christchurch – support to technology, specialised manufacturing and life-sciences sector AUT Tech Park, Auckland – business incubation and technology park Kea*, Auckland – business network organisation for expatriate New Zealanders

Most significant contribution by an organisation to export support Better by Design (NZTE)*, Auckland – design advocacy and integration programme Connect New Zealand*, Christchurch – support to technology, specialised manufacturing and life-sciences sector HiFX Ltd*, Auckland – foreign exchange risk management Kea*, Auckland – business network organisation for expatriate New Zealanders

ENDS

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