Manukau businesses encourages to enter awards

16 March 2007 – for immediate release

42 Below founder encourages Manukau businesses to enter Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards

The official launch of the 2007 Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards this month is a preview of what lies ahead for Manukau’s top local companies, focused on national and international success.

The Awards will be officially opened on the evening of Wednesday 21 March at a function attended by past and present winners, media and sponsors, the Mayor of Manukau Sir Barry Curtis, and entrepreneur marketer Geoff Ross.

Geoff Ross founded multiple award winner 42 Below Vodka six years ago, brewing vodka in his garage. Today his brand is regarded as one of the world’s premium vodka brands.

“It’s great to be involved in this programme, because it seems like only yesterday that we were an emerging business ourselves,” says Geoff Ross. “I am looking forward to sharing my story with Manukau businesses, because there are some amazing successes in this city.”

Over the years, many world-leading companies have been involved in the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards, and past winners include Rayglass Boats, Epic Packaging, Villa Maria Estate, tourism retailer Kiwi Discovery, and Styrobeck Plastics Limited.

While these companies range in size from just three stores, to vast international brands, they possess one characteristic in common: the ability to achieve excellence in all aspects of their operation.

"Westpac has been supporting the Business excellence awards programme all over New Zealand for many years and in that time we have continually been impressed by the quality, variety and drive of businesses coming through to win each year,” says Bruce McLaughlan of Westpac Bank.

“What has particularly shone through is the fact that success is not always about scale. Best practice, innovation and tenacity are qualities as relevant to a business with two employees as a business with 2000. As these awards seek to show, true business excellence takes many forms, all of which we can learn and develop from."

With entry categories including employer of choice, exporting and tourism through to small business, manufacturing, innovation, customer service, emerging business, workplace safety, and community contribution, there is a chance for any type of business to succeed.

Consultants from Enterprising Manukau are available to assist businesses with their entries, including a series of seminars and workshops. Entries close on 22 June, with finalists announced on 19 July.

"For every entrepreneur like Geoff Ross, there are dozens who are excelling every day in our city," says Mayor Sir Barry Curtis.

"The Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards are about revealing and then celebrating our business leaders, because they are the people that make Manukau a truly dynamic city."

Business managers and owners interested in attending the Launch or entering the Awards should visit www.bizawards.co.nz or contact Enterprising Manukau on 09 262 2244.

ENDS

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