FAQ

Key Dates for 2013

Entries open for Business Awards Categories:
Monday 25th March 2013  (Last day for entries Friday 16th August 2013)
Entries open for MoreFM Customer Choice Nominations:
Monday 5th August 2013 (Last day for nominations Friday 27th September 2013)
Call for Nominations to The Northern Advocate Business Hall of Fame:
Monday 5th August 2013 (Last day for nominations Friday 27th September 2013)
Entrants Networking Evening:
Wednesday 9th October 2013
Awards Presentation & Gala Dinner evening:
Friday 25th October 2013
Judging:
Wednesday 21 August 2013 – Thursday 3 October 2013

Why should my business enter?

  • Energise, motivate and build your team for the future.
  • Highlight your success to current and potential clients, suppliers and staff. Awards logos are available for marketing and promotion.
  • Add value to your strategic and business planning.
  • Receive an independent perspective of your strengths and improvement opportunities at no cost.
  • Benchmark your business against your competitors.
  • Each category winner will receive a Customer Experience package from CX Group which includes strategies and systems for world class customer experiences and enhanced profit and growth.
  • Each category winner also receives a Media Prize, to promote their business. Courtesy of MediaWorks Northland, Channel North, and The Northern Advocate.

How do I enter?
In the first instance you should fill in an online form from the home page and an entry pack will be sent to you. Alternatively you can complete an Awards Entry immediately (available from the Chamber) or enter in person at the Chamber (Monday – Friday 9am to 4pm) Help is available to complete the entry form through the Workshops or directly from the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Northland.

Does it cost me to enter?
There is no cost to enter the awards.

Do I need to be a Chamber member to enter?
No, you don’t need to be a Chamber member to enter the awards. However, membership offers your business many benefits including events and networking, free business advice and more.

How long will it take me to enter?
This depends on how easy it is for you to gather the information for your entry. The process of entering is usually helpful for your business so the time you take to enter is never wasted. Once you have gathered your information the application process should take approximately four hours. If you have any questions, please contact us to assist you.

Do the award criteria take into account an organisation’s financial performance?
Yes, however this does not need to be submitted in the application form. Any information regarding financial performance will be requested at the site visit only and you will be contacted to discuss this prior to your site visit.

Judging Process
The judging process will combine a desk-top business study with a follow up by on-site judging from the Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards judging panel. A modified Baldrige criteria based closely on a standard developed by the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation will be used. This system allows for the equitable comparison of businesses of unlike scale and nature based on measurable qualities.

All judges sign a confidentiality agreement and are required to disclose any conflict of interest that may arise from any entrant business. Also if any entrant feels they would be unfairly disadvantaged by being judged then that judge can be substituted without prejudice, by contacting ceo@northchamber.co.nz

Workshops
To make the process of entering as easy as possible, Entrant Workshops will be organised to clarify the entry process and provide some insight to what the judges are looking for. Venues are to be confirmed and registration is essential to awards@northchamber.co.nz. The workshops will be facilitated by Business Coaching NZ, the Northland Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by a Nationally Accredited Business Excellence Evaluator.To register your attendance, complete an Expression of Interest form. Please read the Conditions of Entry before you submit your application NBEA Guidelines

What entrants and winners receive -

Value proposition for Awards Entrant:

  • Receive an industry-approved Business Health Check clarifying your current position and future opportunities.
  • Inclusion in Northland Business Grow initiative with access to potential training funding.
  • Attend presentation events, meet key industry figures, and network with like-minded businesspeople.
  • Have the opportunity to benchmark your business against others, both within and outside your industry.
  • Have the chance to promote your business with national exposure to new customers and potential partners.
  • Celebrate the journey of your business to date and reward staff.
  • Channel North (TV) package of  $300+GST towards production of a 15 second commercial
  • Name and logo in pre & post award media advertising.

Value proposition for Category Winners:

  • Discounted NZCoCN membership for following year.
  • Recognition and company materials at Chamber Business Award events for following year.
  • Opportunity to guest speak at NZCoCN function.
  • 2 discounted NZCoCN monthly luncheon tickets to one luncheon.
  • Permission to display the NZCoCN Awards logo on company stationery and advertising material.
  • Customer Experience enhancement package from CX Group including a business wide review of your Service Aptitude (C-SAT) and one other workshop or review service of your choice designed to improve your customer experiences, business profit and growth. Value up to $2,500+GST.
  • Media package consisting of The Advocate (print) package of $500+GST advertisement placement and free advert creative.
  • Media package consisting of Media Works (radio) package of $500+GST airtime and free advert creative.
  • Media package consisting of a Channel North (TV) package of  $500+GST towards production for inclusion in the “Award Winners Documentary”
  • TOTAL PACKAGE VALUE – over $5000+gst

Value proposition for the Westpac Supreme Winner

  • Discounted NZCoCN membership for following year.
  • Recognition and company materials at Chamber Business Award events for following year.
  • Opportunity to guest speak at NZCoCN function.
  • 2 complimentary NZCoCN monthly luncheon tickets to one luncheon.
  • 2 discounted NZCoCN monthly luncheon tickets to one luncheon.
  • Permission to display the NZCoCN Awards logo on company stationery and advertising material.
  • 1 Complimentary BA5 hosting opportunity.
  • Customer Experience enhancement package from CX Group including a business wide review of your Service Aptitude (C-SAT) and two other workshop or review services of your choice designed to improve your customer experiences, business profit and growth. Value up to $4,000+GST
  • Media package consisting of The Advocate (print) package of $1000+GST advertisement placement and free advert creative. (Consisting of their category winner prize and supreme award prize)
  • Media package consisting of Media Works (radio) package of $1000+GST airtime and free advert creative (Consisting of their category winner prize and supreme award prize)
  • Media package consisting of a Channel North (TV) package for TVC production and 12 month airtime (60 airings a month) valued at $5,600.00+GST (Consisting of their category winner prize and supreme award prize)
  • TOTAL PACKAGE VALUE – over $11600+gst