Sunrise sweeps top prize

Little did Bruce Farley know when he claimed to be a "gun commercial cleaner just moved down from Auckland" 23 years ago that he was launching one of Nelson's most successful businesses.

The Upper Moutere-based Sunrise Cleaning Services firm owned by Mr Farley and his wife Phillipa Rutherford last night picked up the Westpac Supreme Award at the Westpac Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Awards. It also won the Port Nelson Large Business Award.

Nelson Pine Industries managing director Murray Sturgeon picked up the other major award of the night, being this year's inductee to the chamber's Business Hall of Fame.

Comperes John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld told the 430-strong audience that Sunrise Cleaning Services was a "true rags-to-riches" story. It employs 110 staff and services 80 commercial clients including many of the region's largest companies.

Mr Farley and Ms Rutherford also own the Chandrakirti Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre in Upper Moutere.

Mr Farley said he had a "colourful history" and secured his first cleaning job – an hour a night – at the ANZ Bank in Richmond after misleading it about his experience in the industry.

"I wouldn't lie now. Yes, it was $82 a week and I think our vacuum cleaner from home blew up on the second night."

Mr Farley said the cleaning industry was "often maligned" but they had strived hard to professionalise it. More than 40 of their staff have been with the firm for more than five years "which in commercial cleaning is just unheard of," Mr Farley said.

He estimates the industry generates about $30 million a year in turnover in Nelson. Sunrise Cleaning Services won the Chamber of Commerce medium-sized business award in 1994 and a service award in 1996.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dot Kettle told The Nelson Mail the firm's overall performance impressed judges.

"They haven't had to discount to win that business. It's been done on the quality and efficiency of the service they provide."

She said several judges felt this year attracted the highest standard of entries they had ever seen, particularly in the medium-sized business category.

"Any of the four finalists would have been strong winners in their own right." This year also saw a record number of entries, with 24 businesses competing for prizes compared with 19 in 2007.

No entries were sought in 2008 because the function followed a different format in recognition of the chamber's 150th anniversary.

This included the establishment of its Hall of Fame, of which Mr Sturgeon became a member last night, alongside the inaugural inductees, Thomas Cawthron and the Goodman brothers.

Mr Sturgeon is in Germany on business, so his daughter, Susan White, accepted the award on his behalf. In a pre-recorded interview played to the crowd, he said it was a great honour to be recognised by his peers.

Other award recipients included Blueberry IT which won The Nelson Mail Emerging Business Award; Got it Covered which won the Radio Network Small Business Award and Cuts @ Once which was the MediaWorks Medium Business Award winner.

The Wakatu Innovation Award went to Anatoki Salmon and the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Investing in People and Skills Award was won by The Sea Kayak Company.