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The Grand Business South Awards are held every two years to celebrate innovation, creativity and success in the business sector. They recognise business excellence across the Business South region, and provide a great opportunity to consider and acknowledge the achievements of your organisation and your team.

“The application process itself is a really healthy and useful exercise for businesses, guiding you to reflect on where you’ve come from, where you’re at and where you’re heading,” says Cara Bradley, Business South Director Sponsorship, Exports and Mentors. “Whether you are a small business or a large organisation, or something in between, this is a chance to showcase your work and gain valuable media exposure and networking opportunities.”

As well as offering recognition for your organisation, the Awards provide the opportunity to benchmark against others and gain expert advice from the judges to inform continued growth and improvement.

“It’s motivating to get up tomorrow and do even better than we did today,” says Richard Whitney, the CEO of Dunedin’s Mercy Hospital, which won the Supreme Business Excellence Award in 2020.

Entering The Grand Business South Awards

Any Southern business can enter the Awards – they do not need to be a member of Business South.

Applications close at 5.00pm on Monday 29 August.

Finalists will be announced in October, and winners will be revealed at the glittering black tie gala dinner on Friday 18 November at the Dunedin Town Hall.

Read our Entry Guide 

Submit your entry

We know that a nomination can be a really great way to encourage an entry. If you would like to nominate someone for an award, please email Julie Cheyne with their business name, contact details and why they deserve to be nominated. Nominations are confidential, but you are welcome to let the organisation know you’ve made the nomination and encourage them to enter.

Business South would like to thank the other generous sponsors of The Grand Business South Awards: The Grand, Otago Daily Times, Otago Community Trust, Dunedin City Council, Enterprise Dunedin, University of Otago Business School, Otago Polytechnic, Findex, Anderson Lloyd, NZME, Forsyth Barr, Clutha Development, Grow Dunedin Partnership, Strawberry Sound, DKCM, and Allied Productions.