Stratford businesses win awards

Stratford businesses were among the winners at the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards held on Saturday night, with Amity Court Motel, Eastern Taranaki Experience, Industrial Chemistry Services Ltd and Tutaki Youth Inc all receiving awards on the night.

Held at the TSB Stadium, the gala dinner and awards ceremony was well attended, and guests heard from guest speaker, the Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce during the evening.

Jason Kowalewski, who along with his wife Kate owns and operates Amity Court Motel, says they are thrilled to have won the Small Business Excellence Award as well as taking Highly Commended awards in other categories on the night.

"The awards are an excellent way to have your business judged against other excellent companies and businesses and it is really rewarding to get the feedback."

Ellen Hall, general manager of Tutaki Youth Inc agrees.

"The whole process of entering and being judged provided us with some great learning opportunities. Being named winner of one of our categories was of course exciting, especially when you consider the high calibre of the businesses we were up against."

Anotehr Stratford Business, Industrial Chemistry Services Ltd, was named winner of the Industry Excellence Award, as well as receiving Commended Awards in the IT and Technology section and Business Innovation and Entrepeneurship Excellence section.

Eastern Taranaki Experience also came away with several awards, with Highly Commended in the IT and Technology section and Visitor Industry Excellence section.