Finalist: Newstalk ZB Medium-Large Business Award

Boulevard Services says it enjoys short-notice urgent jobs. Photo / Paul Taylor

Finalists for the 16th Westpac Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards are being profiled in Hawke's Bay Today ahead of Thursday's black-tie award ceremony at the Hawke's Bay Opera House. Judges have visited all businesses and selected category winners with the ultimate prize the Westpac Supreme Business of the Year winner to be announced on the night.

Boulevard Services

Boulevard Services is a commercial/industrial cleaning and facility maintenance business, based in Napier and employing more than 80 staff.

Their client base includes Pan Pac, Napier and Hastings Councils, three Pak N Save Supermarkets, five New World Supermarkets and four Countdown Supermarkets - to name just a few.

"We enjoy nothing more than when a customer rings up with an urgent job that they needed done yesterday, we quickly get on to the job, and the customer breathes a sigh of relief," owner Shaun McPherson says.

Boulevard Services specialise in large one-off and difficult jobs. Other services include regular daily office/commercial premise cleaning, vinyl floor stripping and resealing, hot water blasting, concrete floor scrubbing, moss/mould removal, flood and fire restoration, carpark and yard sweeping.

Boulevard Services has been cleaning up the Bay since 1996 "If Boulevard Services can't clean it, no one can."

Bay Tyres

Bay Tyres trade from two outlets, Advantage Tyres in Napier and Hastings Tyrepower.

The tyre retailers service commercial and domestic clients and provide a specialist fleet service to transport operators throughout the region.

The business is owned by Leo and Kris Van Berkel and Carole Cottle. Leo and Carole have extensive experience in the industry - a combined total of 48 years.

But team members have even more experience - 104 years.

They are keen to keep abreast of market and industry trends and are proud to be locally-owned and operated.

They say the person you talk to on the phone is the same one that will do the job.

"We pride ourselves on a total customer focus. We have created an environment where our customers can seek and receive expert knowledge for all their tyre requirements. We also operate in two distinct geographic markets and we have adapted to those different needs."

William Colenso College

William Colenso College in Napier is a "switched-on institution" which bases itself on sound business practices, such as systemic congruence and constant self-assessment, says principal Daniel Murfitt.

"Congruence is achieved by sticking to its core values: Respect (Manaakitanga), Belonging (Whanaungtanga) and Excellence (Hirangatanga). Every decision, teaching practice, operational structure and customer relationship is filtered through these values," he said.

"Similarly, the organisation constantly reviews itself, its operational procedures, its structures, its relationships, its outcomes. Consequently, this dynamic school listens to its students (customers) and responds to their needs. "This in turn results in growing numbers of overseas students (against the national trend) and an increase of funds into the local economy.

"It brings into the Bay 70 students per year, plus $500,000 in foreign funds. That's without including the disposable income/tourist dollars the overseas students and their families spend while here."