Small businesses encouraged to celebrate diversity

The important role small businesses play in creating a truly inclusive workplace culture in New Zealand will be recognised at the 2019 Diversity Awards NZ™.

Now it’s 22^nd year, the awards are open for entries until May 7^th – offering New Zealand workplaces the opportunity to showcase the diversity and inclusion initiatives that are positively impacting their people and their business performance.

For the first time this year, the independent judging panel has the discretion to confer a Small Organisation Excellence Award in any of the nine award categories.

These SOE awards are available to organisations with fewer than 50 employees, explains Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Rachel Hopkins.

“Statistics New Zealand figures show that last year there were 952,700 people working for enterprises that employed fewer than 50 people – that’s more than 40 percent of our workforce,” she says. “This means that all initiatives to encourage diversity and belonging in small organisations have a big impact on building a more inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Judging convener Neil Porteous says the new awards are an exciting opportunity to acknowledge the efforts that businesses all around New Zealand are making to maximise the benefits of a diverse workplace and honour the unique backgrounds, skills and needs of their people.

The other change this year is that finalists will be announced in the nine award categories for the first time. The finalists will be made public in June, two months ahead of the Gala Dinner announcement of winners.

“We had more than 90 entries in the 2018 programme, showcasing inspiring initiatives right across New Zealand,” says Porteous. “Announcing finalists allows us to celebrate not only the category winners, but also other high-quality, leading-edge initiatives that really stand out.”

Last year the awards attracted a record 93 entries from organisations across the private and public sectors. The New Zealand Defence Force won the Supreme Award.

Entry to the awards is free. Visit diversityworksnz.org.nz. 

Photo: Tim and Carissa Fairbrother’s Wairarapa-based business RIVAL Wealth won the 2018 Work Life Balance Award.