Organisers of this year's Wanganui Chamber of Commerce Business Awards are pleased with the level of interest, with new entries from the Rangitikei, Raetihi and Ruapehu regions boosting total numbers.
Entries for the awards close on August 26.
Wanganui Chamber of Commerce president Jenny Duncan said entrants ranged from large companies to
small businesses.
"We get the whole range and we really have to make sure it's tailored for all of them.
"It's there for everybody."
Part of the award process is the chance to attend workshops for help with the application and general business strategies.
At the workshops, previous chamber of commerce business award winners and board members would be there to assist and advise applicants.
The workshops were very popular, Ms Duncan said.
"They are going really well with quite a lot of people attending, so it's great."
Ms Duncan said this was the first year the awards had been open to people from the Rangitikei, Raetihi and Ruapehu regions.
"It's really made a difference. The numbers are way, way up."
It was safe to say it was their best year, she said.
The change came after a decision to merge the chamber of commerce with the Employers Chamber of Commerce Central.
This meant from Monday, the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce would become the Wanganui Employers Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber of commerce encouraged more people to apply, so they could learn more about their businesses and themselves, Ms Duncan said.
"We are very keen to support people with their entries because it's a really good opportunity for them to learn and grow."
It was the participation they were looking for, she said.
The awards are sponsored by Wanganui Security and Electrical.
The next workshop will be help on August 11, from 10.30 to 11.30am at Element café.
For more information, visit www.wanganuichamber.co.nz
