Established in 1993, the Hunter Region Business Excellence Awards have undergone many transformations over the years.

Originally known as the Cessnock/Kurri Kurri Small Business Awards, they applied to businesses of the Cessnock shire only. They then grew to encompass the Maitland and Dungog shires and became known as the Lower Hunter Business Excellence Awards. In 2007 the awards were renamed the Hunter Region Business Excellence Awards and were opened to businesses throughout the Hunter region.

This year’s Awards opened for nominations in May 2013 and almost 100 separate applications were made with 69 finalists recognised. The winners were announced on Friday, 6 September 2013 at a gala event, recognising the 20 year anniversary of the awards, presented by the Hunter Region Business Enterprise Centre.

The major winners this year were Banjos Bushland Retreat who took out the trophy for Tourism and Accommodation and Business of the Year, Stephanie Mortel of Mortels Sheepskin Factory who won Business Woman of the Year and Bryce Gibson of LJ Hookers Cessnock securing the inaugural Young Entrepreneur award.

“This years Hunter Region Business Excellence Awards were possibly the best ever conducted by the Hunter Region BEC,” Kerry Hallett, Manager of the Hunter Region Business Enterprise Centre said.

“Our judges worked hard throughout August to come to their final decisions and they were impressed with the standard of customer service from most of the nominations and urge them to keep up the good work.”

“The presentation ceremony itself was held at the beautiful Cypress Lakes and the food, wine, weather and company were superb. The feedback received to date for the evening has been most positive – the challenge now is to continue to reach this standard in the coming years!”

Fairfax Regional Media (The Advertiser and The Maitland Mercury) have been major sponsors of the awards since 2000, with Beyond Bank (formerly Companion Credit Union), Cessnock and Maitland Councils and Akuna Care coming on board since.

The full list of winners are below:

Arts and Crafts

• Wupa@Wanaruah

Restaurants and Caf√©’s

• Cupz N’ Crepes

Internet Based Business

• Infosolve Pty Ltd

Hairdressing/Beauticians

• Inspirations Hair Design

Retail

• Mortels Sheepskin Factory

Business Services

• Bottrell Business Consultants Pty Ltd

Health

• Targeted Fitness

Construction/Home Improvements

• Cronan’s Design and Drafting

General Business

• Finook Industries

Finance/Real Estate

• Aussie Maitland

Trades

• Newcastle Security Centre

Tourism & Accommodation

• Banjo’s Bushland Retrewat

Not For Profit

• Ungooroo Aboriginal Corpopration

Innovation

• Hummingbird Electronics Pty Ltd

Home Based Business

• Colour Monkey

New Start

• iGym 247 Kurri Kurri

Environmental Excellence

• MV Solar Pty Ltd

NEIS

• Oops! the Clown

Indigenous

• Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council

Customer Service

• Cupz N’ Crepes

Business Woman of the Year

• Stephanie Mortel

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

• Bryce Gibson

Business of the Year

• Banjo’s Bushland Retreat