PLEASE NOTE: 2010 AWARDS CLOSED - THIS IS HISTORICAL INFORMATION ONLY.

 Entries to the 2010 Business Awards are now open - please go to

www.waipabusinessawards.co.nz for all information.

2010 Business Awards - now closed

Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Waipa Networks Business Awards Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce

Why enter the Waipa Networks Business Awards 2010?

This year there’s even more reason for Te Awamutu businesses to enter – including the opportunity to enjoy a glamorous ‘red carpet’ night out with your team close to home, as the Awards Ceremony is once again back in Te Awamutu.

SCROLL TO END TO OPEN ENTRY FORM AND OTHER DOCUMENTS

We asked a business tutor why they recommend businesses enter the Awards:   Why enter?

  • It is an opportunity to focus on your business in a structured way and identify core strengths and competitive advantages as well as areas that may benefit from more focus in the future.
  • Participation in the awards provides networking opportunities with other business leaders and professionals.
  • Award winners receive public recognition of business excellence.
  • Award winners receive extensive local and regional media coverage.
  • All entrants receive independent assessment and feedback from experienced judges (based on your entry form).
  • The award process provides a platform on which to acknowledge the contributions made by employees to your organisation’s success.
  • Award participation provides a means of engendering pride in your organisation.
  • Award participation provides another dimension for showcasing your services and products to a wider audience.
  • Award participation provides an opportunity to engage with both the Te Awamutu and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce and their members.

Last year’s Business of the Year and overall winner, Fiona Glass of Cambridge’s Robert Harris Café said:

“There was the prestige of winning the award and the resulting publicity.  The media coverage of the Business Awards had a huge impact on sales, and it raised the profile of the business straight away.  The Awards was a brilliant exercise to analyse the business.  Having to put the business under the microscope, we could review and strengthen the areas that needed improving.”

How to Enter:

Closing dates for entries in this year's awards:

Customer Service –CLOSED
Business Excellence Categories - CLOSED
Customer Choice – Friday 9th July (votes CLOSED)

Excellence Categories only: By the closing date you need to supply us with the following:

  • Cover Sheet
    Please submit a cover sheet outlining the category you are entering and contact details
  • Official Entry Form
    You are requested to complete your submission based on the headings in the official entry form.
  • Excellence Categories - please complete and attach 'Template letter from Accountant'.

Entry into Customer Service categories is automatic for Chamber members. Non Chamber members must advise either Chamber office by the closing date of Friday 9th April 2010. CLOSED

Customer Choice category: votes are open to all customers of businesses operating within Waipa.. Votes are via on line and / or text messaging only. Individuals are able to complete two votes – one on line and one text. Detailed links for both methods are outlined below. Text votes open from 1 June.

ONE VOTE PER PERSON (PER METHOD) ONLY. Votes are monitored and ineligible votes will be discounted.

ENTRY FORMAT EXPLAINED:

Business Excellence Categories only

The official entry form is a Microsoft Word document that has text boxes that should be completed.

You are encouraged to focus on the key areas of your organisation and to use your imagination and initiative. The judges will be focusing on the specific areas identified in the official entry. You may add appendices and supporting documentation, but the official entry should be self-contained. (You may use more room than the text boxes supplied but maximum page limits are specified.)

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
to enable the judges to get a quick overview of your business. A brief history and description of your business. A description of what makes the business unique to the market and excellent in business. A summary of key business achievements and results. Why do you believe that your business should be an Award Winner?

2. LEADERSHIP
Discuss the style of leadership within your business. Describe your vision for the business. How is your vision communicated throughout the business?

3. CUSTOMER FOCUS
Who are the customers of your business and how do you manage and develop customer relationships? How do you measure your customers’ satisfaction? What changes have you implemented from customer feedback? What do you have in place to grow your customer base?

4. QUALITY
Describe your business quality management system. Describe how your staff contributes to the quality management system.

5. BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
Describe the financial and operational reporting systems of the business with reference to what data is collected, frequency of reporting and how the information is used in the management of the business. Describe the Key Performance Indicators / Key Measures specific to the business. Describe what element of your company’s performance over the last year you are most proud of and why? (you may provide statistics and graphs to support your statement)

6. PLANNING
Explain your business planning process - its format and time frames. How are plans implemented, communicated, reviewed and updated?

7. Excellence in Workplace Wellness
Explain how your business engenders a healthy workplace environment. What Initiatives do you have in place focused on the overall wellness of your staff?

8. Excellence in Tourism / Hospitality

Explain how you define your potential customer. What is your point of difference to other businesses in the similar industry?

9. Excellence in Education / Training
Describe the organizational structure of your business. Describe how you evaluate the performance of your staff. Outline the incentives that you use to encourage and inspire your staff.

10. Excellence in Innovation and Knowledge
Describe the following – innovative products or services created, processes or technology developed or used, and/or people employed in an innovative role to further a culture of innovation. How do you encourage and introduce new ideas? How do you use innovation and knowledge to manage performance improvement?

11. Excellence in Marketing

Describe your marketing plan. How do you measure and review the effectiveness of the marketing plans and ensure its currency and relevance? Describe a significant opportunity in the market place that you identified and pursued in the last year.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Finalists will be required to provide a written statement from their accountant confirming the financial viability of the business. This statement can be found below. It is intended to be fully completed by your accountant.

ENTRY TEMPLATES FOR THE 2010 WAIPA NETWORKS BUSINESS AWARDS

THESE DOCUMENTS ARE FOR INFORMATION ONLY - THEY ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THE 2011 ENTRY PROCESS.

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