MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 20 June, 2005
National Award Recognises Start-up Business Programme
Enterprise North Shore has been named a finalist in the inaugural Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards.
The charitable trust made the shortlist for its services to economic development. Established in 1993, Enterprise North
Shore is North Shore City’s economic development agency – supporting the development of local, regional and national
strategies for the creation of a vibrant and buoyant economy. It is also the City’s advocate for business and
facilitates, promotes and encourages business growth, investment and employment.
Enterprise North Shore is a finalist in the Local and Central Government category, for its networking and training
programme for prospective start-up businesses, Starting Off Right. The programme is fully-funded by Enterprise North
Shore for business people either living in North Shore City or planning to establish a business in the city. Introduced
in September 2002, Starting Off Right has been attended by 900 prospective North Shore business people. Starting Off
Right encourages business people to improve their business decision making by supplying and explaining the key
information that all business people should be aware of before starting a business.
Good businesses tend to be those that start out informed and realistic about the challenges they will face and what they
need to do to be successful, explains Starting Off Right programme co-leader, Sandra Crosby. “In helping attendees get
to this level, some find Starting Off Right to be an important wake-up call while others are reassured that they are on
the right track. The programme caters to both groups and to all industry sectors,” says Ms Crosby.
Entries for the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards are independently evaluated by the NZ Business Excellence
Foundation (NZBEF). It is a not-for-profit charitable trust set up to assist in improving the performance of New Zealand
organisations. The winners of all seven categories will be announced at a gala dinner on Thursday July 21. This is will
be a major highlight of the annual Small Business Expo at the Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland. Category
winners will be automatically entered for the Vero Overall Excellence in Business Support Award.
Ends