Lake Mac Business award finalists announced

Lake Mac Business award finalists announced

After receiving a high number of quality entries, The Business Growth Centre say they are delighted to announce that the finalists for the 2015 Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards have been selected.

Business Growth Centre Manager, Brett Gleeson was extremely pleased with the number of outstanding entries received across all 13 categories this year.

“In its fourth 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.”

The Awards are an initiative of the Business Growth Centre and the aim is to recognise business excellence and celebrate the outstanding achievements of local businesses and their contribution to the Lake Macquarie community.

Entrants who demonstrated a high level of excellence in their application were selected across 13 categories focusing on areas such as branding and 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.

Lake Macquarie business owner and entrepreneur Rachael Sheldrick has been named as a finalist in five categories in this year’s Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards.

“After one of our businesses, GS Mechanical, was named Business of the Year last year, I thought that might mean we wouldn’t be considered again, but I am thrilled with this result as we have had another bumper year of growth in our workshop,” Rachael said. “Not only that, but my consulting business, The Workshop Whisperer, is about to celebrate its first anniversary with a finals nomination as well.”

The Workshop Whisperer was formed after Rachael was repeatedly asked for advice from other small independent workshop owners on how to run their businesses better in order to make a decent profit.

“I decided to share the secrets to our success because I didn’t want any other families to struggle the way we did when we first took on our mechanics workshop. As I wanted to help as many business owners as possible, I created an eight week online program which is now sold throughout Australia and New Zealand,” Rachael continued.

Asked how winning three awards last year has impacted her businesses, Rachael commented that entering and winning awards at the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards was one of the best strategies they’ve undertaken since becoming business owners back in 2007.

“Just the process of formulating and submitting an entry is an achievement in itself, but it is also a great way for a business owner to reflect on just how far you’ve come in your journey of self- employment.”

The awards dinner is an amazing event where the Lake Macquarie business community comes together to celebrate each others achievements, and the exposure that comes from being a finalist and award winner is huge. We received national press last year, and as a result of that I now write for two national trade magazines, and have just published my first book “Turbo Charged- How To Take Your Auto Repair Business From Survival To Success”.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, 11 July 2015 at Belmont 16s.

2015 Awards Finalists

Excellence in Branding and Marketing

Excellence in Sustainable Business Practices

Excellence in Business Systems

Excellence in Innovation

  • Classic Blinds and Shutters – Macquarie Hills
  • Lake Macquarie Local Area Command – NSW police – Boolaroo
  • Extra Spark Electrical – Charlestown
  • My Sky – Cardiff

Excellence in Retail Practices

Excellence in Workforce Training and Development

  • Michel’s Patisserie – Toronto
  • WooHoo Salon – Charlestown
  • KENT Conveyancing – Boolaroo
  • Dynamic Business Technologies – Cardiff

Excellence in Entrepreneurship

  • Skye Baldwin – The Pilates Barre – Warners Bay
  • Rachael Sheldrick – GS Mechanical – Whitebridge
  • Heidi Alexandra Pollard – UQ Power – Cardiff
  • Lisa Haynes – Gourmet Dog Barkery – Belmont

Excellence in Customer Service by the Whole Business

  • Macquarie Vetz Animal Centre – Warners Bay
  • WooHoo Salon – Charlestown
  • Mortgage Choice – Cardiff & Charlestown
  • KENT Conveyancing – Boolaroo

Excellence in Customer Service by an Individual Employee

  • Richard Windeyer – Mortgage Choice – Cardiff & Charlestown
  • Dale Slater – Property Solutions 101 – Gateshead
  • Emma Smolenaers – Ella Bache – Charlestown
  • Annette Robards – Backyard Grannys – Bennetts Green

Excellence in Not for Profit / Charity

Excellence in New Business

Excellence in Young Entrepreneurship

  • Joel Howlett – JD’s World of Magic – Charlestown
  • Wade Spink – Extra Spark Electrical – Charlestown
  • Renee Emerson – Valentino’s Hair Retreat – Valentine
  • Kylie Frearson – Property Solutions 101 – Gateshead

Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety

Young Business Person of the Year

  • Kendall Hill-Smith – The ORS Group – Charlestown
  • Shayne Connell – Cancer Council – Charlestown
  • Renee Emerson – Valentino’s Hair Retreat – Valentine
  • Wade Spink – Extra Spark Electrical – Charlestown

Business Person of the Year

  • Jeff Sansom – PRD Nationwide Lake Macquarie – Warners Bay
  • Michelle Kent – KENT Conveyancing – Boolaroo
  • Rachael Sheldrick – GS Mechanical – Whitebridge
  • Margaret Earling – Yara Balba Stables – Mandalong

Image | Rachael Sheldrick

Business Growth Centre

Established in 1998, the Business Growth Centre is a not for profit Business Enterprise Centre, Business Incubator and Registered Training Organisation.

The Business Growth Centre's purpose is to support and grow small and micro businesses in the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area. The Business Growth Centre is committed to providing quality advice, services and support to ensure ongoing growth of local businesses.

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