Finishing school approach works for Otago business

MEDIA RELEASE FROM BIZZONE

Finishing school approach works for Otago businesses

By taking a ‘finishing school’ approach, the Otago Chamber of Commerce has stimulated business in the Otago region and reached the finals of the 2010 Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards.

The Otago Chamber’s ‘finishing school’ aims to bridge the gap between individuals and businesses by matching the attributes and skills of businesses - mixing individuals’ life skills awareness with business needs. The Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards are held annually to celebrate the best on offer to business in New Zealand. The brainchild of Sarah Trotman of Bizzone, the awards are sponsored by Vero and BDO, and are a key event leading up to the annual Bizzone Business Expo, New Zealand's largest event for business. The winners will be announced at a Black Tie Gala Dinner in the Auckland Town Hall on 20 May.

The Otago Chamber of Commerce is facing competition from Leadership NZ, The Rotorua Chamber of Commerce and Waitakere Enterprise in the BDO Not-for-Profit category of the awards.

As the leading economic broker in Otago the Chamber sees itself as a ‘lightning rod’ for over 5,500 businesses across Otago which account for more than 50% of the region’s gross domestic product. It actively promotes and encourages business growth and opportunity in Otago, often successfully forming three-way relationships between employers, cadets, staff, apprentices and other agencies.
By combining assets and skills within its programmes, and offering extensive training experience, the Chamber provides a strategic advantage for businesses in Otago. Reduced operating costs from these synergies of individual programmes and the resources used to achieve them mean better-value courses for businesses.

The Chamber has further built its credibility by encouraging workers to develop business capability. Its 4Trades Apprenticeships Programme is a prime example, providing management of apprentices from employment, their placement into work situations and training, through to graduation.

Roger Bell, Chief Executive of Vero Insurance, the Foundation Sponsor of the Vero Excellence in Business Support awards, says, “It is inspiring to see the impressive range of finalists that demonstrate international levels of best practice in their businesses and quality support as a key part of their business. This year there has been a resounding 163 nominations and entries which shows the growing commitment of New Zealand’s business support organisations to excellence.”

“In today’s tight economy businesses need to be excellent to survive, particularly in the support area,” Sarah Trotman says. “We have widened the scope of the awards to include South and North Island categories this year and the high number of entries for the awards speaks volumes about how business support is viewed by organisations today.”

The 37 finalists were selected by The New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation which provides an independent and robust evaluation process for the awards’ 10 categories. “Excellent business support assists New Zealand businesses to build capability and capacity and in doing so they become more competitive and sustainable,” says Mike Watson, chief executive of the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.

Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards Finalists for 2010

BDO Business < $5m T/O One on one Offering Kerridge and Partners Escalator Service The Learning Wave Life Care Consultants

BDO Business < $5m T/O One to many Offering Telecommunication Resolution Services ActionStep New Zealand Business Forums

BDO Business $5-10M T/O Designworks Video Pro Digital Island

BDO Large Business > $10m T/O Bartercard UniServices The Interface Financial Group Fuji Xerox New Zealand Kiwibank Maclean Computing

BDO Not-for-Profit Leadership NZ The Otago Chamber of Commerce Rotorua Chamber of Commerce Waitakere Enterprise

BDO Government Local & National carboNZero programme EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) Inland Revenue Statistics New Zealand

BDO Education Provider Leadership NZ Escalator Service Life Care Consultants Ochre Business Solutions

BDO Regional North Island Rotorua Chamber of Commerce Enterprise North Shore The Web Company GoFi8ure

BDO Regional South Island The Otago Chamber of Commerce Enable Networks

BDO Individual Mike Tournier - carboNzero Peter Meggison – Kiwibank Rod Oram - Evanston Enterprises Ltd

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