Waikato businesses taking a good hard look at their performance in unprecedented times and being chuffed at their achievements is thought to be behind record entries for this year's Waikato Business Awards.
It's also the reason judges chose a record 22 finalists from the total of nearly 80 entries, with head judge Dr Heather Connelly of Waikato University noting something special about this year's competition.
"As someone who has been engaged for a number of years with the awards, there was something extra special this year and maybe that is in part due to having to rethink business due to the global pandemic.
"All the businesses who entered were seriously focused on how they can make a difference to the region, economically, socially and environmentally. As judges, this really made the process even more challenging than previous years."
Waikato Chamber of Commerce events and marketing manager Sarah Hogan said the number of entries - nearly double last year's - suggested not only did Waikato Inc want to celebrate achievements in a highly challenging environment of lockdowns and restrictions, but businesses had had time to think about strategy and goals and conclude they'd done a good job.
