A $100,000 prize from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) will be used by award-winning engineering consultancy Beca to nurture innovation among its 2500 staff and to build relationships with new international clients.
Beca was the Supreme Winner at last year’s New Zealand International Business Awards, developed by NZTE. Entries are now open for the 2010 awards programme, and close on Friday 16 April.
Part of Beca’s prize will be used to further develop its own awards programme for staff — known internally as the Beca Innovation Awards. Beca managing director Paul White says the idea is to encourage staff to look for more innovative and effective ways of working which, in turn, increased the value the company brought to its clients around the world.
Past participants in its innovation awards had gone on to win external recognition, such as being awarded Platinum Green Mark ratings for Beca-engineered buildings in Singapore, which also helped build Beca’s international profile and reputation.
Clever solutions
“Finding clever solutions and helping our clients to do things better is part of every day life here, and an important strand of the unique offering we offer as an international engineering consultancy,” Mr White says.
“Our own awards are an exciting forum for staff from our 20 offices around the world to share their ideas and best practice.”
Beca also puts a lot of effort into building connections with clients and partners. Part of its $100,000 prize will be used to meet with clients in three of its growing international markets — China, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. This includes using the New Zealand Central venue in China to host new and potential clients at the time of the Shanghai Expo.
Establishing partnerships
“Establishing partnerships and joint venture companies with multinational organisations is an important business strategy for us. It provides vital industry knowledge and skills, and keeps us at the forefront of international best practice.
“For a New Zealand business to become truly international, the effort required to build and maintain these relationships can not be underestimated.”
Mr White says Beca values the way the entry and judging process for last year’s New Zealand International Business Awards had encouraged the management team to look closely at how its business was performing globally.
NZTE operations manager Craig Armstrong says Beca was using its prize in smart ways that would contribute to the company’s international growth.
“Businesses operating internationally help grow our economy and improve living standards for all New Zealanders. For this reason, the New Zealand International Business Awards are purposely designed to reflect new approaches that New Zealand businesses like Beca are taking to achieve international success.”
The Supreme Winner of the 2010 New Zealand International Business Awards will receive a $100,000 prize to be used to progress their international business strategy.
Additionally, the winners of each special category award this year will receive a customised package worth up to $50,000 from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology’s business innovation programme TechNZ to build their research and development capability.
