Papakura businesses focus on excellence

 

 

• Strong entries in 2009 business awards
• Venue confirmed for gala award dinner

The search is on for Franklin and Papakura’s best businesses, and Papakura’s businesses have responded enthusiastically. Twelve local businesses have entered the award, most of them entering more than one category.

Organisers have confirmed that the gala award dinner will once more be held at Strathallan School, the venue of previous Papakura business award dinners.

The dinner, rated by many the social highlight of the business year, will be held on October 17, starting at 6.30 pm with champagne and canapés and continuing with awards during dinner.

The awards provide an opportunity for business owners to work on their business and develop plans for sustained performance. This joint initiative, of which the major sponsor is construction and building product company Stevenson, replaces separate business awards previously held in both districts and is a prestigious event that profiles entrants throughout the two districts.

Organisers say Papakura’s businesses have responded very positively to the call for entries and to the opportunity to fine-tune their businesses to meet the challenges of the current economic downtown.

“We’ve had a very strong entry and all the entries are of a very high quality. There is no better time to work on your business than right now, and the businesses that have their processes sorted and have set up strategies to ensure long term success are the ones that will be best positioned to recover from the recession.”

Two free workshops held early this year helped assist business owners to develop their entries. Judging, including site visits to finalists, is now under way.

Categories are: New Zealand Steel Excellence in Manufacturing Award, Franklin Foods Best Emerging Business Award, Opus Excellence in Innovation Award, HEB Construction Excellence in Service Delivery Award, KiwiPrint Best Small Business Award, ACC Workplace Safety Award, Rainbow’s End McLaren Brown Publishing Excellence in Tourism Award and the Excellence in Rural Production Award.

Tickets to the event are $95.00 per person or $900.00 for a table of ten.

Businesses requiring further information should contact Emma Rahui on 021 395 800 or erahui@papakura.govt.nz.