2023 WAIKATO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AWARDS
The Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards supported by Foster Construction Group are a celebration of the strong business community we have in the Waikato.
Get set to be inspired as the winners of the prestigious 2023 Waikato Business awards have been announced – check them out below.
On This Page
Click to jump to each section on the page.
Benefits of Entering
• Development for you and your business begins at entry. Entering creates an opportunity to focus on your business in a structured way and identify core strengths and competitive advantages as well as areas that may benefit from more focus in the future.
• Improve. All entrants receive independent assessment and feedback from experienced judges; providing the business with independent advice to grow, develop and improve for business in general and for entering in future awards.
• Goal Setting. Judges’ feedback supports internal goal setting for even further development for the business, its owners and employees.
• Network. Participation in the awards provides networking opportunities with other business leaders and professionals, who are all striving for excellence.
• Recognition of Success. Award winners receive public recognition of business success being acknowledged as the best in the Waikato in your industry by your peers, the business community, media and potential employees.
• Recruitment. Being an award finalist and/or winner provides credibility to attract key talent to your business.
• Appreciation. The award process provides a platform that acknowledges the contributions made by your employees, suppliers, clients and others to your organisation’s success.
• Publicity. Award participation provides another dimension for showcasing your services and products to a wider audience, and enhances your reputation in your customer’s eyes.
• Alumni. All finalists and winners will join past Waikato Business Award alumni and will gain recognition from the business community – promoting their achievements and assisting in growing the Waikato’s business success story.
Award Categories
Micro Business
Recognises excellence in organisations with an annual turnover up to and including $1 million per year, which have achieved overall significant growth or performance as a result of effective planning and delivery.
Entry requirements: Minimum 1.5 full time equivalent employees and an annual turnover up to and including $1 million excl GST.
For Purpose
Recognises excellence in organisations that apply commercial strategies to maximise improvements in community wellbeing, reinvesting profit or surplus from trade to achieve its social mission.
Entry requirements: Minimum 1.5 full time equivalent employees, with verification of charitable status.
Innovation
This category recognises organisations that have enhanced their success through innovation - both in thinking and implementing of an idea. An innovation can be in a product / service / technology or process.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $1 million excl GST.
Marketing
This category recognises businesses that show an outstanding example of a marketing project where research was used to validate performance. Examples of performance include increasing customer loyalty, retention, satisfaction, profitability and/or brand awareness.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of
$1 million excl GST. Whilst 3rd parties may have created and assisted in completing the project relating to this entry, the organisation entered must be the beneficiary.
Business Growth & StrategyÂ
This category recognises organisations that have achieved significant business growth during the last two years as a result of effective strategic planning and actioned delivery.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover of at least $1 million excl GST.
Service Excellence
This category recognises organisations that have succeeded through showing consistent dedication to superlative service and demonstrates its commitment to the customer through its service policy, staff training and/or other specific means.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $1 million excl GST.
Community Contribution
Recognises organisations whose ongoing work or specific project(s) have resulted in outcomes to the community which are visionary, have high impact and are transformative, embodying the qualities that define excellence in contribution. This includes outstanding generosity, creativity, innovation, commitment and courage.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $500,000 excl GST.
International Trade
Recognises businesses that successfully work within, and captures the benefits of, the global market, demonstrating outstanding International Trade achievements, sustainable growth and results.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $1 million excl GST.
Sustainability
Recognises organisations, be they commercial or charitable, that embrace sustainable practices in daily operations that reduce the impact on the environment and or provide product or services that have positive environmental and or social outcomes.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and an annual turnover in excess of $500,000 excl GST.
People & Culture
Recognises a business that has demonstrated strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating, high performing and supportive workplace environment to maximise the full potential of its team and create a values-based culture.
Entry requirements: minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of $500,000 excl GST.
Emerging Leader of the Year
Recognising emerging leaders, who have significantly contributed to an organisation.
Entry requirements: Minimum 2 full time equivalent employees and annual turnover in excess of
$500,000 excl GST.
CEO of the Year
Recognises Chief Executives/ Managing Directors, who demonstrate exemplary leadership.
CEOs and MDs are evaluated based on criteria including; the performance of the company that they
lead, the extent to which they have contributed to the company’s performance, overall leadership
qualities and the esteem in which they are held by peers.
Entry requirements can be found in the T&Cs.
Supreme Winner
Winners from Micro Business, Service Excellence, Business Growth, Innovation, International Trade, Marketing, Sustainability and People & Culture are all in contention to become Supreme Winner.
Judges select the best of the best and award them with the ultimate golden trophy. Winners join the prestigious list of others who have been before them.
Timeline
24 April: award entries open
5 May: drop-in info session. More details here.
18 May: Award Launch event. More details here.
26 May: drop-in info session. More details here.
23 June: drop-in info session. More details here.
5th July @ 5pm: entries close
13 September: Finalist Announcement event.
17 November: Gala Dinner
Judging Process Supported by 2degrees
The judging panel consists of over 30 Waikato business leaders, and takes place over two stages. We are proud to have 2degrees as the sponsors of our judging process, helping the judges to do the great job they do, just as 2degrees are Fighting For Fair for Kiwi Business.
Judging steps
In the first stage of the process, the judges will review your written application and decide which businesses will progress to stage 2.
Stage two includes a site visit, which will take about two hours. The judges will ask questions including about your application, your business and anything else they might find relevant.
The judges will then decide who the finalist and winners are for each category and supply feedback which will be shared with your after the Gala Dinner.
Hear what our Head Judge, Dr Heather Connolly, has to say about why you should enter the Business Awards!
The Gala Dinner
A highlight on the region's business calendar, the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala Dinner will take place on 17th November 2023.
This black-tie event is an opportunity to celebrate the success of business in the Waikato. The awards ceremony takes place around a beautiful three-course meal designed specially by Montana Food & Events at the Claudelands Events Centre. Nothing is spared for the evening – you will enter the Gala Dinner via a red carpet and receive a glass of champagne on arrival.
Purchase your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
Resources
Find out more about the benefits of entering with these case studies on two previous winners.
Emblems NZ and the ‘twin flame’ trophies
Read more about the evolution of the Waikato Business Awards trophies.
Contact
If you have any queries regarding the Waikato Business Awards, please contact:
Jenny MacGregor
Branch Manager
021 037 8360
jenny.macgregor@waikatochamber.co.nz
