Awards offer business health check-up

Media Release

5 March 2009

Awards offer business health check-up

The launch of the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards offers companies a timely opportunity to have a robust health check and identify their competitive edge.

The awards, which were launched last night, are about celebrating success but also helping companies to improve and grow. Entering the awards is free, all it takes is time.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown says the economy is going through tough times, but there is still a need to celebrate success.

“It’s even more important to use the opportunity to improve business practices. The awards offer a free way for businesses to gain an outside perspective on their strengths and opportunities for improvement.

“Being involved in the awards can also energise employees. Enthusiastic staff are probably a company’s greatest asset.

“The awards celebrate the ability of our businesses to continue to grow and stay strong through difficult times. In the traditional Manukau way - they just get on with it.

“The awards have become a benchmark for business success. Past winners are a who’s who of New Zealand success stories, names like Villa Maria, Kiwi Discovery and Rayglass Boats,” Mr Brown says. Last year’s winner Metalman was recognised for its success in securing customer loyalty and tapping into highly lucrative export markets.

Westpac’s General Manager of Business Banking, Ian Blair, agrees that the business excellence awards are really more important than ever, because of the current economic climate.

“The process itself is beneficial for the entrants. It gives them a chance to step back and look objectively at their organisation, to consider the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, and to benchmark their businesses against their peers. And many successful entrants at these awards all over the country say winning is an added extra.

“For them, the real benefit is going through the process of submitting an entry. There is no other mechanism that forces them to rigorously evaluate and monitor where they are and what they are doing.”

Mr Blair says Westpac is committed to helping local businesses during this tough period.

“We’re just appointing 50 new business bankers who will be local business bankers in branches throughout the country. We're taking on new staff to do this, which gives Kiwis jobs and shows we are very much open for business."

Manukau City Council began the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards in 1994 to recognise, encourage and assist business growth and development.  The council and Westpac are the major sponsors of the awards, which are delivered on behalf of the council by Enterprising Manukau. 

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

ENDS

.

© Scoop Media