SUPREME WINNERS: The team at East Coast Heavy Diesel won the Horizon Business Excellence Award in 2014. File photo
BUSINESSES from across the Eastern Bay will be celebrated for their successes and achievements at the 2016 Horizon Business Excellence Awards on September 16.
Finalists in each of the seven categories have been announced, with tickets to the black tie affair now on sale.
Hosted by the Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce, the awards attract entries from the region’s vast and varying businesses.
Chamber chief executive Gerard Casey said the entry process was robust.
“The awards deliver real benefits to those organisations entering, largely through the thorough self-assessment process each goes through,” he said.
“Each also enjoys an enhanced profile, a boost in staff morale and public recognition of the organisation’s achievements.”
He said it was important that Eastern Bay businesses had a forum to showcase excellence and the awards provided the perfect opportunity.
“Eastern Bay businesses achieve well on a national stage. Businesses featuring in the awards allow an opportunity to be benchmarked against others and also drill down on what they are doing,” he said.
The chamber took over hosting the business awards in 2010. Until then and since 1985 they had been known as the Triple A Business Awards, an event run by volunteers.
“It’s been an enjoyable learning curve since we picked up the reins.
“The first year it was largely myself and chamber office manager Kirsten Ashcroft running the show, including washing and drying dishes at the conclusion of the event,” Mr Casey said.
Judged by Waikato University’s Business School faculty, the awards push entrants through the challenging and in-depth entry form, but enable feedback from the judges.
With the Nova Excellence in Business Award for large business, the Focus Accountants Excellence in Business Award for medium business and the Waiariki Institute of Technology Excellence in Business for small business, the awards celebrate emerging and new business, young leaders, work/life balance and excellence in sustainability.
All excellence category winners are automatically entered into the Supreme Winner Business of the Year Award – an award recognising the most outstanding business overall. In 2014 the honour went to East Coast Heavy Diesel and Machinery.
Other premier awards include the Toi EDA Excellence in Economic Development Award, the Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi Business Entrepreneur Award, the Hamertons Lawyers Excellence in Innovation Award and the Sun FM Leadership Award.
Finalists are ...
- Nova Energy excellence in business (large): Mainstream Engineering, Nicholson Autos, New Zealand Manuka Group, Ohope Top 10 Holiday Park.
- Focus Accountants excellence in business (medium): First Credit Union, Kawerau Medical Centre, Life Pharmacy Whakatane, Ohope 4 Square, The Wrangler, Whakatane Office Products.
- Waiariki Institute of Technology excellence in business (small): Bullseye Productions NZ, Christie Electrics 2010 Limited, Columbus Coffee Whakatane, Evolution Autos Ltd, HBC Home Based Childcare, High Profile Enterprises.
- Julian’s Berry Farm and Cafe excellence in business-emerging/New Business: Awakeri Rail Adventures, Diverse Graphics, Eastern Bay Chiropractic, Plenty Limited, Stage Door - Performing Arts Academy.
- New World Whakatane emerging young leader of the year: Bradley McKenzie (Nicholson Autos), Simon Wren (Wren Builders), Patrick O’Sullivan (White Island Tours), Karla Meharry (East Coast Heavy Diesel), Steve Franklin (Hamertons Lawyers), Lewis Ellis (Whakatane Office Products Depot), Tete Raerino (Columbus Coffee Whakatane).
- Spark employer of the year work-life balance award: Columbus Coffee Whakatane, Whakatane District Council, Ohope Top 10 Holiday Park, NZ Manuka.
- Bay of Connections excellence in sustainable practices award: Trident High School, White Island Tours, Ohope Beach 4 Square.