More entries for business awards

Significant growth in businesses around sports could be the industry to drive new economic growth.

Rowing, cycling, racing, canoeing, sailing and golf have major operations in Cambridge and that has given birth to many support services.

It was an emerging industry Cambridge Chamber of Commerce chief executive Tania Witheford expected to achieve well in the future.

It was also an industry which could well feature at Waipa’s business awards in the years to come.

‘‘Certainly we can see a significant growth in related businesses around sports, everything from physios, to specialists, coaches but at the moment they’re not entering into the awards.

‘‘But I can say for Cambridge, there is real evidence that there is a move, a change in composition of the market place and I think we would expect to see that come through more in the future.’’

Entries for the 2017 Waipa Networks Business Awards had numbered more than 2016.

‘‘There is participation growth on last year across all categories and for each of the areas involved, that’s Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Raglan.’’

Witheford said it showed more businesses wanted to be recognised for their efforts.

‘‘It’s nice to see people looking to be recognised for the good work they do and the platform their businesses are working on.’’

She said the New and Emerging Business category this year had been one of the strongest, which was an indication of the number of new businesses setting up in the district.

Along with sport-related support businesses, tech enterprise also came through as an industry to watch in the future.

‘‘We don’t have totally dedicated IT businesses yet but there is a much stronger visible uptake on the integration of online chanels into businesses.’’

Two categories remain open including the Cambridge Employee of the Year, which would close on July 27.

The other is the Vodafone Customer Choice category where people can vote for a business that provides great service.

There was one vote per mobile number use. Each voter goes in the draw to win a Vodafone mobile phone. Entries close July 15. Text Waipa together with the business name to 4040.

The awards event will be held on August 18.