Workshops to help businesses enter awards

Lisa and Colin MacPhee. Photo/File

Multiple business award winner Colin MacPhee will speak at a workshop to help businesses enter the 2016 Westpac Business Excellence Awards in Rotorua.

Entries close on July 31 and businesses are urged to attend the two upcoming workshops.

Mr MacPhee, from Quest Rotorua Central, said he would encourage anyone thinking about entering the awards to attend. He would provide details of his experience of winning categories for the last two years.

He also wants to tell business owners that entering is not as onerous as many people think.

"I want to share with businesses some of the work required to put in an entry as well as discuss the benefits of entering."

"It's really not as difficult as perceived and is very beneficial for your business. The process of documenting your business planning is a great tool for analysing your business," he said.

Mr MacPhee said having the judges scrutinise your business and getting business experts to challenge your thought processes was invaluable.

Quest Rotorua Central won the Emerging Business of the Year Award in 2014 and then won their category in 2015 with the Hospitality Business Award.

"Having won twice - it shows that what you put in to your entry can be rewarded on the Gala Night," he said.

The Winning Business Awards workshops are being held by Bay of Plenty's Business Growth Centre Firestation, in partnership with the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce.

Darren McGarvie, chief coach from Firestation and previous award winner, said he would go through the entry form to guide businesses on the type of information they need to include as well as providing best practice examples.

"These workshops are a great way for businesses to find out if they are following best practice and what areas of their business they can improve. They will provide important insight in how to submit a great award entry,"Mr McGarvie said.

The workshops and awards are open to all organisations, even if they are not chamber members.

The workshops will be held on Wednesday July 6 and Wednesday July 20 from 5.30-7.00pm.

To register go to www.bit.ly/BusAwardsWorkshop

Entries for the 2016 Westpac Business Excellence Awards entries close July 31 2016.

For entry details go to www.bit.ly/BusAwardsEntry

About the Awards:
13 award categories including:
o Manufacturing and Trade
o Service Provider
o Retail
o Hospitality and Attractions
o Emerging Business
o Community Organisation
o Emerging Young Leader
o Employee of the Year
o Customer Service
o Social Responsibility
o Health and Wellbeing
o Excellence in Sustainable Practices
o Young Entrepreneur of the Year award

Winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre, on Saturday 15 October 2016.