Courtenay Stefanek prides herself on a professional and pristine finish to all cleaning jobs and now she has award winning proof after cleaning up at the New Zealand Franchise Awards.

At the recent awards ceremony the VIP Home Services, Mount Maunganui owner was awarded the Home Services Franchisee of the Year award and is humbled to be given such high praise.

Courtenay Stefanek after winning the Home Services Franchisee of the Year award. Photo supplied.

'I'm very excited and hugely honoured. I was asked to do it the last three years but this year was actually a good point I was with the business.”

VIP Home Services is a group of franchised businesses working together under the VIP Home Services brand providing cleaning, lawn and garden services to residential and commercial property owners and occupiers throughout the Bay of Plenty.

Courtenay has spent the last five years building up the Mount branch of the franchise along with her two other staff members.

'I'm very excited. It's the first time I have entered and won.

'It's a lot of work with my business in the last years. It's a big process with all the award applications but it pays off for all the late nights.”

Judges on the night said Courtenay demonstrated a good business understanding and clear focus on running a successful operation thanks to a strong business minded vision.

They were also impressed with her empathy with customers and their requirements, and the consistent focus on providing services as efficiently as possible.

Courtenay says with a 100 per cent success rate at the awards her application for next year's awards will be done well ahead of schedule.

'That's what said to them at the awards, ‘see you next year for round two'.”