This year, Lensink is encouraging and supporting a number of her clients to enter.<\/p>\n
The application processes allowed business owners to take a broader look at how their business was faring: the kind of assessment she encouraged clients to do each year.<\/p>\n
With entry coaching, entrants get good feedback along the way, Lensink said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 100% a good way to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Villa, winning its two awards was a great way to boost publicity and increase team morale, Lensink said.<\/p>\n
Ann\u00e9 Lensink from Villa Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors says entering the awards is a great way to do an annual assessment.<\/p>\n
Businesses don\u2019t need to be perfect to enter, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLots of businesses are a work in progress \u2013 you can still be proud of where you are and what you\u2019ve achieved,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about success, not perfection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Megan Edwardson from Hair by ME in Whang\u0101rei encouraged people to take the time to enter, saying it was a great way to identify where a business was at.<\/p>\n
Hair by ME was a finalist in the Excellence in Business \u2013 Small Business Award category last year and will be entering again this year.<\/p>\n
Edwardson said businesses needn\u2019t be afraid they were too small or not good enough to enter, with each assessed against their own goals.<\/p>\n
Megan Edwardson from Hair By ME says entering the Northland Business Excellence Awards is a valuable thing to do.<\/p>\n
The awards night was also a great opportunity to connect with other Northland businesses who might not have crossed paths before, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to go and be in the same room as other people who are striving.\u201d<\/p>\n
The black-tie awards night was also a fun chance for the team to get dressed up and bond over their success, Edwardson said.<\/p>\n
Awards co-ordinator Brittany Edwards said as well as celebrating success, the awards were about building Northland\u2019s business capability, resilience and networks.<\/p>\n
With business owners busier than ever this year, NorthChamber worked hard to support entrants, including simplifying the entry form and refreshing the guidelines.<\/p>\n
One-on-one entry coaching and support was available right up to entry close-off on August 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n As well as the business award categories, Northlanders were being encouraged to make nominations for the Northern Advocate Business Hall of Fame<\/a>.<\/p>\n This award recognises people who are the backbone of the region<\/a>, with nominations closing September 7.<\/p>\n