Award Categories
You can only enter ONE Sector Excellent category (what you do), but businesses that enter a Sector Excellence category are also eligible in the Business Practice categories (How you do it).
Please note, you can enter a Business Practice Award without entering in the Sector awards.
Sector Excellence Awards
Emerging Business – Recognises those businesses that have been in operation for more than one year and less than three years at 30 June 2018, or achieved significant growth during the last one to three years because of effective planning and delivery, which leads to growth and long-term sustainability.
Who should enter?
All businesses in the start-up phase, small to medium size, who have been in business less than three years
Manufacturing, Construction and Distribution Award – This category is for any business in the manufacturing, construction sectors and/or logistics of goods including food, regionally, nationally or internationally.
Who should enter?
Includes production, agri-business, horticulture sector, forestry, transport, freight, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, distribution, marine, earthworks and logistics.
Service Excellence Award – Recognises the successes and achievements of a business delivering services to the customer, or business whose principal activity is in the provision of services.
Who should enter?
Includes all the trades, printers, hairdressers, beauticians, gyms, massage therapists, repair services, lawyers, accountants, doctors, web designers, creative agencies, advisors, veterinarians, real estate agents, banks, photographers, financial planners, IT providers, insurance brokers, retail sector, tourism and hospitality.
Social Enterprise Award– A social enterprise or social business is defined as a business that has specific social objectives that serve its primary purpose. Social enterprises seek to maximise profits while maximising benefits to society and the environment. Their profits are principally used to fund social programmes.
Who should enter?
This category recognises management excellence in organisations outside the private sector including the not-for-profit sector, schools and local government, community trusts, and community service organisations.
Business Practice Awards
Business, Digital & Technology Innovation – Recognises the digital economy through online business and technology.
Who should enter?
All businesses can enter this category and includes all clients and marketing, digital, advertising, communication and media agencies in addition to any party involved in the digital sector. It recognises a business that demonstrates creative, entrepreneurial or innovative process, product, technology or service that has enhanced the businesses success.
Continuous Improvement/Lean Award – This recognises an ongoing effort to improve products, services or processes. These efforts can seek ‘incremental’ improvement or ‘breakthrough’ improvement, and is focused on increasing the effectiveness and/or efficiency of an organisation.
Who should enter?
All businesses that have, or are looking to introduce, greater organisational improvement and want to be operating at maximum efficiency. Those businesses that have a focus on growth, and wanting to create a culture of improvement.
Sustainable Business Practices – This category is for the business that demonstrates how sustainable practices are embedded into the organisational strategy, vision and operations to deliver sustainable practices and business growth.
Who should enter?
This is open to all entrants in the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards. You can enter this category alone.
Customer Experience Award – This award recognises a business that succeeds through showing consistent dedication to outstanding service and demonstrates its commitment through its service policy, staff training and/or other specific means.
Who should enter?
This is open to all entrants in the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards. You can enter this category alone.
Workplace Safety Award – Recognises a business that demonstrates excellence in workplace health and safety practices and that has successfully integrated these into its operation. A positive safety culture exists at all levels within the business.
Who should enter?
This is open to all entrants in the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards. You can enter this category alone.
Please note, we have refined the entry process to make it easier for you to enter just this category without filling in the prior information (such as financials).
Corporate Leadership Award –Recognises a significant company for their outstanding contribution to the region’s economy. The business will demonstrate economic impact, employment scale, and investment in the area and community involvement. The business, through their continued investment, have created or retained jobs, improved the general wellbeing of the community and generated economic growth throughout the Tauranga and western Bay of Plenty.
Who should enter?
This is a selected award.
Westpac Business of the Year – All businesses in the awards are eligible for this category.
Judging process
What we have learnt from our previous entrants is that they really value the independent and constructive feedback from the process, and is often stated as a key reason for entering.
This year, to guarantee that all entrants get feedback, we are introducing an independent facilitator who is contracted to the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards to do all the site visits, make the initial assessment and write up the constructive feedback.
The first stage is the initial assessment of the online entry by the Independent Facilitator, Financial Assessor and Awards Coordinator. This gives a sense of confidence to the entrants, judges and organisers of independence. They might alert judges to certain aspects of the financials as specific questions and call the entrants accountant to verify financials.
In stage two the Independent Facilitator will drill down in more detail and gain an overall impression of the business. They will also visit each entrant at their site – this interview could take up to two hours.
And the third stage is where we will run a ‘pitch weekend’ where each company will come to a panel of judges, and pitch their company. This panel will consist of 5 to 6 judges with specialist knowledge related to our criteria, e.g. continuous improvement, H & S. At the end of the ‘pitch weekend’ the entire judging panel will select the finalists and have input into the Westpac Tauranga Business of the Year Award.
It is important to note that judges are selected for their business skills and knowledge. Any conflicts of interest are established and all sign confidentiality forms.