Export Southland Innovation Award Finalists Announced
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Finalists have been decided for the 2018 Export Southland Innovation Award. The judging committee were impressed with the calibre of candidates nominated and also the variety of industries, and range in size of the businesses.
The judges were Export Southland Committee members Graham Dick (consultant & committee chair), Geoff Finnerty (South Port), Calvin Claridge (South Fish) along with independent judges Wayne Lambeth (ASB) and Frank Gibbons (AIR NZ)
The Finalists for the ‘Export Southland Innovation in Export Recognition Award’ are:
- Blue River Dairy blueriverdairy.co.nz
- FI Innovations f-i.co.nz
- Lillipad lillipad.co.nz
- Southland Disability Enterprises sde.org.nz
The two other major awards up for grabs are:
- HSBC Organisation Recognition Award
- AIR NZ National Cargo Service to Export Individual Award
A record number of applications were also received for the HSBC Export Southland Trust Grant.
Export Southland is a Charitable Trust administered within the Southland Chamber of Commerce by the Export Southland Committee. It is charged with distributing grants for projects and initiatives which support the development and advancement of Southland through the export sector.
The purpose of the Trust Grant is to assist Southland businesses involved in export to aspire towards a sustainable environment, which supports the employment of a skilled workforce through the involved of training, promotion, and education up-skilling, as well as research and development.
At their discretion, the Trust Committee offers a grant/s to the applicant/s who demonstrate that their exporting activity will enhance skills, employment, and development in the Southland region within the export sector.
In 2016, grants were presented to Focus Technology Group ($6k) to assist with travel to US Acumatica Conference to promote their TimeTrak product suite technology, and Back Country Foods Ltd ($7k) to assist with research and translation services for export into the South American Market.
The winners of the three awards and grant will be announced at the biennial Recognition Gala Dinner on Friday 21st September at the Ascot Park Hotel. The event will feature a three course meal showcasing the best of Southland Export produce, awards ceremony and entertainment by local musician Neil Chilton.
Tickets to the evening are limited and selling quickly, to book contact the Chamber of Commerce.
Background of Southland Export Awards.
The Export Southland Recognition Awards are a biennial event alternating with the Westpac Southland Business Excellence Awards and have become a prestigious and popular event.
They are facilitated by the Southland Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Export Southland Trust.
The four main purposes of Export Southland are:
- Represent exporters’ views on policy issues
- Promote networking, education and social events
- Recognise significant business and individual contributions to the export sector
- Assist start-up export orientated businesses