The success of local businesses was celebrated at the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner, held at Belmont 16s on Saturday 28 July 2018.
Eleven different businesses were announced as winners across 14 categories focusing on areas such as excellence in small business, digital technology, social enterprise, customer service, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Four major award winners were also recognised for their business expertise, capacity to expand, their contribution to the Lake Macquarie Business Community and ability to give back to the general community. These were Precision Taxation Accounting & Management (PTAM) who took out top honours as Business of the Year, Ian Jones from Merchant Business Brokers was awarded as Business Leader of the Year, and Gunther Neumann from Remondis was awarded as Young Business Executive.
Other winners included:
- Customer Service by Whole Business – Hunter Eco Plumbing;
- Customer Service by an Individual – Kelly Eke, Precision Taxation Accounting & Management;
- Excellence in Innovation – Design Anthology;
- Start-Up Superstar – A Growing Understanding;
- Outstanding Young Entrepreneur – Matt Purcell, The Green Room MP;
- Small Business (-20 FTEs) – Mama-P Health Foods;
- Excellence in Digital Technology – Precision Taxation Accounting & Management;
- Excellence in Sustainability – Solar Power Australia Pty Ltd;
- Contribution to the Region – Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service;
- Excellence in Social Enterprise – Police & Citizens Youth Clubs NSW – Morisset Club; and
- Excellence in Work, Health and Safety – Charlestown Caring Group.
Sponsored by Dantia and SafeWork NSW, the 2018 Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner attracted a sell-out crowd of close to 400 business people from across the city.
Chief Executive Officer of the Business Growth Centre, Graeme Cotton, said he was extremely pleased with the results.
“Being my first awards, I have been really impressed with the quality of the entries, and I feel the judges have done a marvellous job in identifying the best of Lake Macquarie’s businesses,” Graeme said.
The Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards are an initiative of the Business Growth Centre. The aim of the awards is to recognise businesses operating within the city of Lake Macquarie who provide exemplary products, services and more.
IMAGE | Sponsor representative Darren Guy from St George Bank, winner Ian Jones and prize representative Heidi Alexandra Pollard from UQ Power.