It Is About Celebrating Businesses with Outstanding Business Practices

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Business Excellence Award is about recognising business excellence and achievement. The Award is open to businesses of all sizes and from any industry.

It is about celebrating businesses with outstanding business practices.

Submitting your entry

Email your completed form and supporting material to , or post to Regional Identity Manager, Central Otago Awards 2017, Central Otago District Council, P O Box 122, Alexandra 9320.

1. Business details:

1. Your business:

2.1.What does your business do?

2.2.What customer need or problem is your business solving?

2.3.What is unique about your business?

2.4.Tell us about the early days. What were your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

2.5.What strategies do you have in place to grow your business?

2.6.Given the current position of your business, what is your focus? i.e. growth, profitability, lifestyle. Explain your reasoning and how it impacts your day-to-day operations.

2.7.What are your aspirations for your business?

2.8.What role do innovative practices have in your business?

1. Achievements

3.1.What have been your proudest milestone achievements and why? What did you learn along the way?

3.2.How is your business successfully challenging the status quo in your industry?

3.3.How do you problem solve in your business? Provide an example to illustrate how you removed an obstacle to achieve success.

3.4.What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned?

1. Sales & marketing

4.1.Please provide an overview of your sales and marketing plan, and explain why you have selected the specific marketing activities outlined in your plan.

4.2.Describe the most successful marketing activity you have undertaken in the past 12 months, along with how you measured its success.

4.3.Describe the role digital channels play in your overall marketing strategy.

4.4.Tell us what’s unique about your products/services and how you benchmark yourself against competitors.

1. Your customers
2. How do your customers talk about you? Provide examples of feedback you have received – positive and constructive.

5.2.How do you gather customer / partner / supplier feedback on your products or services? Provide an example of a change you have made as a result of feedback.

5.3.Considering social responsibility; in the last year what have you done to ensure your business is operating in an ethical and socially responsible way? (Talk about your community involvement, sponsorships or partnerships).

1. Your team

a)For a business who is a single owner/operator with no staff:

6.1.Please detail your personal skills and capabilities as a business owner/operator.

6.2.How do you challenge and motivate yourself at work? Give an example to support your answer.

6.3.How do you celebrate wins in your business?

6.4.What networks and/or strategies do you have in place to enable you to achieve your business aspirations? Provide examples of why these work for you.

b)For businesses with two or more staff:

6.1Please detail the personal skills and capabilities of the business owner(s)/operator(s)?

6.2What is it like to work for your business? How would your employees and colleagues describe your leadership style? Give an example to support your answer.

6.3Do you consider your business to be an employer of choice? Give your reasons.

6.4How do you engage and empower your team to deliver the vision for your company?

6.5.How do you celebrate wins in your business?

1. Planning and performance
2. What plans do you have in place to ensure your business will still be relevant in five years’ time?

7.2.What opportunities are there to expand your business? How will you reach your expansion goals?

7.3.Please elaborate on your approach to documenting your business processes.

7.4.How do you mitigate risks in your business?

7.5.How do you minimise your environmental footprint in your day-to-day operation?

1. Financials

Please provide evidence that your business is financially sound – this could be a letter from your accountant.

1. Referees

Please provide the contact details of two referees.