Business awards open

Gourmet Delicious staff celebrated after collecting the major award in
the 2019 awards. Photo: Amy Bell Photography.

The Waipa Networks Business Awards format has been confirmed.

Cambridge Business Chamber chief Kelly Bouzaid said  a reshaping of the awards categories will better reflect business issues and strategies during 2020.

Any business, of any size, in the Waipā District is eligible to enter.

Entries close on March 10 and the awards night will be on April 16. Covid put paid to the 2020 awards.

“It is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges overcome in the previous months and to celebrate the outstanding achievements and resilience shown throughout the Waipā business community,” she said.

Covid has been incredibly disruptive to the region’s businesses, but there would be some wonderful stories of innovation, adaptation and leadership to showcase in the 2021 Awards programme, she said.

The Awards aim to encourage and support businesses in their quest for success through sustainability, innovation, leadership, and excellence.

The 2019 winners of the Waipā awards were Gourmet Delicious owned by Kim Moodie and Ali Foers.

The Taylor St, Cambridge, catering company said entering the awards allowed it to reflect on its business, assess competencies and look at the company more strategically from all aspects.

“It proved incredibly useful and held us in good stead to weather the unforeseen pandemic,” Ali Foers said.

Kelly Bouzaid said the Chamber was delighted that Waipa Networks was continuing a longstanding support as naming rights sponsors.

She was also impressed by the groundswell of category and production support to enable the event.

“It takes a community to make a successful and sustainable event programme of this magnitude. Association with the event offers great mileage for our sponsors and extends a partnership relationship with the most prestigious business event in Waipā.”

Waipa Networks CEO Adam Fletcher said the company welcomed the return of the awards “not just to highlight the achievements of those in the local business community, but to acknowledge the solidarity that has, and continues, to help us through these challenging times.”

Businesses can get advice on entries by calling 07 823 3460 or emailing [email protected].

For application details, a full list of categories and information go to www.waipabusinessawards.co.nz .

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