Waipa Networks Business Awards 2011

Award Categories

The Waipa Networks Business Awards comprise three sets of awards:

Business Excellence (businesses must nominate and enter themselves and be judged against a set of criteria by independent judges),
Customer Service Awards (Chamber members and all those who request to be included are mystery shopped throughout the year against customer service criteria),
Customer Choice Awards (businesses are nominated and voted by members of the public during a one month voting period).

The Search for Excellence – Business Excellence Awards

Entries to the 2011 wards are now closed.

Category 1	Excellence in Business	This award recognises the small business that best positions itself against competitors and other businesses to achieve outstanding results and maintain a culture of excellence.
Category 2	Excellence in Emerging Business	This category includes all of the above criteria but is specifically for those businesses which have been in existence for less than two years as at 31 March 2011.
Category 3	Excellence in Not-for-Profit Organisation	This award recognises outstanding results and a culture of excellence, entrants may include all businesses / organisations that operate on a not for profit basis.
Category 4	Excellence in Workplace Wellness	Any business which operates initiatives or a culture which actively promotes the health and wellness of staff. Healthy food choices available, incentives to exercise, information and assistance on stress management are examples.
Category 5	Excellence in Tourism/Hospitality	Entrants may include: restaurants, bars, cafes, nightclubs, hotels, accommodation providers, event organisers, tour guides, tourist transport, tourist attractions etc.
Category 6	Excellence in Investing in People	Any organisation demonstrating a commitment and / or success in skills development and responsive to the training and development needs of staff / learners.
Category 7	Excellence in Innovation/Knowledge	Has your business shown innovation by developing or marketing a new product or service? Or have you added a new perspective on an existing product or service? A direct benefit to Waipa District is sought.
Category 8	Excellence in Marketing	Any business able to demonstrate a strong commitment to marketing its products or services, and a record of proven success.
Category 9	Excellence in Sustainability	Any businesses which recognises sustainability as an integral part of business management. Entrants should be able to demonstrate an understanding of environmental impact and provide evidence of commitment to environmental and social strategies.
To enter the above awards, businesses need to complete and submit an entry form by the closing date (31st May 2011). Please see How to Enter.
Category 10	Customer Service	Awarded to those businesses demonstrating outstanding customer service and positive attitudes to customers. Judged through mystery shoppers throughout a 9 month period. All Chamber members are automatically entered. Non members need to apply by 8th April 2011.
Category 11	Customer Choice	Nominated and voted for entirely by public vote (via email and text messaging) as to which business customers believe is exceptional. Voting only available during the month of June 2011. Information on how to vote released on 31st May 2011.
Category 12	Employee of the Year	Finalists selected from recipients of Employee of the Month (a nomination and judging process taking place throughout the year).

The Waipa Networks Business Awards are a great opportunity for all entrants to celebrate what they have achieved to date and map out where they plan to be in the future. While it requires a degree of courage to hold your business up for examination, previous entrants have commented that they found the process very rewarding. The Te Awamutu and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce urge all businesses within the region to seriously consider entering and offer any assistance we can, to help businesses in the process.

Rachel Blake and Raewyn Jones

CEO – Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce / Cambridge Chamber of Commerce