A record number of entries in this year's Southland Business Excellence Awards has shown businesses have not only survived the pandemic, but found ways to thrive. The Southland Chamber of Commerce has received a record 141 entries for 11 categories for this year's awards, a 29 per cent increase on the 109 entries last year. Chamber chief executive Sheree Carey said the amount of applications showed businesses were resilient, and that confidence within the sector was high. She thought the way businesses had supported each other had been a contributing factor to the record entries, and that was unique compared to other business chambers across the country. “I think we’re uniquely Southland, and we put our hand out to help.”Finalists will be announced on August 25, with awards scheduled to be held on October 15.

Source: Stuff August 11, 2021 05:03 UTC