A broad range of businesses have been recognised in the finalist listing for the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards.
Now in their third year, the awards are an initiative of the Business Growth Centre and recognise business excellence and celebrate the outstanding achievements of local businesses and their contribution to the Lake Macquarie community.
Business Growth Centre Manager, Brett Gleeson, said he was extremely pleased with the number of outstanding entries received across most of the categories this year.
“The Awards are demonstrating that many businesses in Lake Macquarie aspire to achieve excellence and the number of high quality entries received certainly validates this,” Brett said.
“To be selected as an Awards finalist is a valuable recognition of a business’ accomplishments so all finalists should be extremely proud of this achievement.”
Entrants who demonstrated a high level of excellence in their application were selected across 13 categories focusing on areas such as branding & marketing, business systems, workforce training and development, customer service, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability. Finalists have also been selected for two of the three Major Awards.
Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner which will be held on Saturday, 12 July 2014 at Belmont 16s. The prize pool currently exceeds $59,000, all of which has been generously donated by a number of local businesses.
Excellence in Branding & Marketing
- Ability Options, Charlestown
- Backyard Grannys, Bennetts Green
- GS Mechanical, Whitebridge
- Design Anthology, Gateshead
- Inzant, Morisset Park
Excellence in Sustainable Business Practices
- The Planted Log, Toronto
- WooHoo Salon, Charlestown
- Academy Sheet Metal, Cardiff
Excellence in Business Systems
- Grinners Catering, Teralba
- Dynamic Business Technologies, Cardiff
- ATUNE Health Centres, Warners Bay
- Inzant, Morisset Park
Excellence in Innovation
- Educational Experience, Gateshead
- HMS Group of Companies, Argenton
- Moon and You, Valentine
- Inzant, Morisset Park
Excellence in Retail Practices
- Ella Bache, Charlestown
- GS Mechanical, Whitebridge
- KC Tender Cuts, Blackalls Park
Excellence in Workforce Training & Development
- Evolution Business & Personal Advisers, Warners Bay
- Dynamic Business Technologies, Cardiff
- Mary Kay Cosmetics, Warners Bay
- ATUNE Health Centres, Warners Bay
Excellence in Entrepreneurship
- Lisa Haynes, Gourmet Dog Barkery, Belmont
- Joshua Jeffress, Design Anthology, Gateshead
- Rachael Scheldrick, GS Mechanical, Whitebridge
- Heidi Alexandra Pollard, UQ Power, Warners Bay
Excellence in Customer Service by the Whole Business
- Ella Bache, Charlestown
- Headliners Hairstylists, Edgeworth
- Charlestown Square, Charlestown
- GS Mechanical, Whitebridge
- Morisset Main Street Pharmacy, Morisset
- Inzant, Morisset Park
Excellence in Customer Service by an Individual Employee
- Jordan Fishpool, AniPET Pet & Aquarium Warehouse, Redhead
- Rebecca Stoker, Stoker Conveyancing, Toronto
- Joanne Thickbroom, Newcastle Onsite, Warners Bay
- Natarlia Bridges, GS Mechanical, Whitebridge
- Karin McIver, Wheel Change U, Warners Bay
- Deborah Barren, Aquatic Campers, Belmont South
Excellence in Not for Profit/Charity
- Hunter Life Education, Edgeworth
- Charlestown Caring Group, Charlestown
- Anglican Care, Booragul
- Ability Options, Charlestown
- Compass Housing Services, Edgeworth
Excellence in New Business Commencement (first year of operation)
- Adopt a Singer, Highfields
- Hayden Workplace Testing, Warners Bay
- MySky, Cardiff
- Ki Vitality, Blacksmiths
Excellence in Young Entrepreneurship (18 – 35)
- Alex Mitchell, Nulex Construction, Bennetts Green
- Kylie Frearson, Property Solutions 101, Warners Bay
- Ryan Bennett, Zimpleweb, Gateshead
Excellence in Workplace Health & Safety
- HMS Group of Companies, Argenton
- LFP Mining, Cardiff
- Inzant, Morisset Park
- Redi Staffing Solutions, Warners Bay
Young Business Person of the Year 2014
- Grace McLean, Royal Institute of Deaf & Blind Children, Floraville
- Mark Campbell, LJ Hooker, Toronto
- Tina Moore, TMP Dance Studios, Swansea
Business Person of the Year 2014
- Narelle Redman, Silveradoh Promotional Products, Warners Bay
- Rachael Scheldrick, GS Mechanical, Whitebridge
- Barbara Davis, Belmont Citi Plaza, Belmont
