Business award finalists named

The finalists for this year's WestpacTrust Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards have been decided.

All that remains is for the judges to complete their evaluation of the finalists and decide the winners.

This is the first year that finalists have been announced before the big night.

The convenor of judges, Derek Dallow, said the eight judges who evaluated the applicants were united in the belief that the 22 finalists were outstanding businesses and worthy finalists.

"We received 61 applications containing a wonderful diversity, from earthmoving companies to flower arranging companies," he said.

What all the finalists have in common is an emphasis on quality and excellence that makes them leaders in their respective fields, he said.

Enterprise North Shore's general manager Terry Hoskins said the Awards were a great chance for all entrants to critically evaluate their businesses and accurately highlight their company's activities and strengths.

"All the entrants have been through a process that forces them to scrutinise their operations and business practices in a way they don't normally have to," he said.

"Even those businesses which have not become finalists have found the awards process to be a useful strategic planning tool that will help them improve their business and who knows, they may become next year's winners," he added.

The winners will be announced at a black tie dinner at the Bruce Mason Centre on Thursday.

Finalists are:

AC Blackmore Excellence in Service Delivery Award:

Pinehurst School; Creative Abilities & Associates; Smith & Davies.

Actionmail and Alliance Construction Excellence in Marketing Award:

Giltrap North Shore; Ancare; Bays Flowers.

North Shore Times Advertiser Contribution to the Community Award:

Local Pride Promotions; Friends of the North Shore Women's Refuge.

Massey University Best Emerging Business Award:

Yakka Apparel Solutions; Jetblast Waterblasting Specialists; Communicatoonz; Forest Roading Services; Sony New Zealand.

Excellence in Innovation Award:

Forest Roading Services; New Zealand Video Tours; Yakka Apparel Solutions; McCulloch Medical.

TMP Worldwide Employer of Choice Award:

KC Temps; Creative Abilities & Associates.

Telecom NZ Excellence in Technology Award:

Ancare; Orcon Internet.

Skill NZ Excellence in Workplace Training and Development Award:

Giltrap North Shore; Smith & Davies.