June 21, 2006
North Shore Confirmed As Home of Young, Innovative Businesses
The reputation of Auckland’s North Shore as the home of young and innovative businesses has received a boost.
Entries in the Innovations and Best Emerging Business categories of the 2006 Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business
Excellence Award are the highest ever. They make up almost one third of all the entries in the awards, which are now
closed for judging.
“We’ve always viewed the North Shore as a hotbed of young, vibrant and talented companies, but we were surprised by the
sudden surge in these two categories,” says Enterprise North Shore Chief Executive Terry Hoskins.
In both the Innovation and Best Emerging Business categories, entries are more than double the numbers from 2005, which
was a record year for the awards. Total entries are slightly down for 2006 but that’s more than compensated by the
quality and enterprise of businesses taking part.
Mr Hoskins adds: “To grow our economy we need to be more innovative and we need more young companies with the ability to
grow and prosper.
“I am very encouraged that this trend is becoming very apparent with the response to our awards.”
Half of those entering the Innovation and Best Emerging category are Information Technology-related businesses, whilst
the others range from food to education, service and health sectors.
North Shore has one of the highest concentrations of innovative businesses in the country and the Westpac-backed
Business Excellence Awards seek to recognise this high level of entrepreneurship each year.
Westpac General Manager for Business Banking, Bruce McLachlan says that as principal sponsor, his bank is delighted with
response to the 2006 North Shore Business Excellence Awards.
He says: “The Westpac Business Excellence awards are an event that we are proud to be involved with. Rewarding and
showcasing the hard work that local businesses put in to succeed is a really important catalyst to help others in
following their example.”
He continues “To my mind, the calibre of entries from the North Shore really reflects the thriving local business
community on the North Shore, all making for a closely fought and well deserved prize.”
Innovation and Best Emerging Business are among 12 categories covering a wide array of North Shore businesses that have
entered the awards, which will be announced at a glittering gala event on August 31.
The categories include:
- BDO Spicers Excellence in Service Delivery award
- ACC ThinkSafe Workplace Safety Award
- Actionmail Excellence in Marketing Award
- Chelsea Sugar Excellence in Exporting Award
- Massey University Excellence in Technology Award
- 3M NZ Excellence in Innovation Award
- North Shore Times Contribution by Business to the Community Award
- Smales Farm Excellence in Environmental Management Award
- Benefitz Best New Start-up Business Award
- Vector Best Emerging Business Award
- Smith & Davies Employer of Choice Award
- The Spencer on Byron Hotel Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism Award
Businesses were able to enter up to three categories and the winners of each category are eligible for the Westpac
Supreme Business Excellence Award. Last year’s Supreme Winner was Glenfield plastics manufacturer Linkplas Industries.
ENDS