Dunedin City Council selected as finalist in 2012 AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards

The Dunedin City Council has been selected as a finalist in the 2012 AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards.

Recognised for excellence in the ‘Government’ category, and based on its Dunedin Business Internship Programme administered through the Council’s Economic Development Unit, the DCC will join 48 other finalists in this years’ AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards – a record number in the awards seven year history.

Sarah Trotman, Founder of the Excellence in Business Support Awards and Director of Business Relations at AUT Business School says the high level of interest this year is highly encouraging for New Zealand business.

“The Excellence in Business Support Awards were established in 2005, and never before have we had 49 finalists. It’s a true reflection of the quality of applicants we have had this year.

“Such interest in recognising quality in the field of business support indicates an understanding that, with world-class business support, New Zealand can build world-class business,” says Trotman.

For Dean of AUT Business School Geoff Perry, being aligned with the awards provides an important opportunity to build on the Schools existing engagement with industry.

“The Excellence in Business Support Awards are regarded highly among industry, providing organisations the chance to benchmark their performance alongside others in their field. As a Business School, it’s important for us to celebrate the businesses that contribute to the economic and social development of our region, so that together, we can continue to add value to the changing world of business,” says Dr Perry.

The robust entry and evaluation process of the awards enables finalists to reflect on how effectively their organisation achieves business excellence in all key areas including leadership and planning, customer and market focus, provision of business support, evaluation and improvement, and business results.

The Dunedin Business Internship Programme operates within the city’s business community providing a market place for skilled interns and businesses to meet in a friendly and cost-effective environment. Its purpose is to improve the flow of top quality students into Dunedin businesses to help with staff shortages and provide ‘real’ experience for students seeking work opportunities post graduation.

Finalists now have until 6 July to submit their final applications. The winners will then be announced on 25 October at a black-tie gala dinner in Auckland. The Supreme Award will be chosen from the category winners.

Evaluation of all nominations will be overseen by The New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation, including evaluators for the management department of AUT Business School. Excellence will be assessed using the international Baldridge criteria.

A full list of the 2012 Finalists of the AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards can be seen below:
Business under $5m turnover – Management Services

    Optimal Usability Limited
    Otago Innovation Limited
    Rotorua Chamber of Commerce
    The Small Business Company
    Valentine Addis Ltd

Business under $5m turnover – Sales & Marketing

    The Research Agency
    Plato Design Agency
    Verve – The Event Agency
    Terabyte Interactive

Business under $5m turnover – Technology

    Vadacom
    Optimal Useability
    Intergen

Business under $5m turnover – Accounting and Finance

    Debtworks
    DJCA
    GoFi8ure

Business $5m - $10m turnover

    Plan-b Ltd
    Provoke Solutions
    Advanced Security
    Laser Plus Ltd

Large Business Specific Initiative

    Deloitte Fast 50
    ASB Bank Ltd Business Focus Account
    BNZ Finance

Large Business $10m-$50m turnover

    Teradata
    Banklink
    Telecom Rentals
    Fusion5

Large Business $50m-$200m turnover

    Kordia Networks
    2degrees
    Minter Ellison Rudd Watts

Large Business $200m plus

    Gen-i
    GE Capital
    Bidvest
    Bartercard NZ
    ANZ Banking Group NZ

Not for Profit

    Sustainable Business Network
    Leadership NZ
    Beef & Lamb NZ
    Development West Coast
    Onehunga High Business School

Government

    CarboNZero Holdings
    Dunedin City Council – EDU
    Business.govt.nz (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment)
    Dispute Resolution Services
    Work & Income

Individual

    Dr Ann Smith – CarboNZero Holdings
    Chris Quin – CEO Gen-I Australasia
    Rachel Brown – CEO Sustainable Business Network
    Glen Senior – CEO The Small Business Company
    Michael Barnett – CEO Auckland Chamber of Commerce