Very rarely is the wider public presented with the opportunity to formally acknowledge those people, groups, small businesses and corporations who continually strive to achieve excellence in their chosen field.

Excellence in business can be judged across a wide range of criteria.

It may be for quality customer service, for brilliant innovation, for financial growth and prosperity, for superior community service and corporate philanthropy, for employee relations or for inventive and progressive training

methods.

Recognising this diversity, organisers of this year's awards have wisely put forward a wide selection of ten categories, recognising excellence across all streams.

Categories include awards for new businesses, for micro-businesses, for excellence in customer service, for community involvement and for retail businesses.

The categories have been designed in such a way to allow businesses of all sizes to nominate.

The smallest one or two-person business has just as much chance of success as some of Ballarat's largest companies such as FMP or Masterfoods.

Furthermore, by recognising and rewarding the ultimate winners, the awards will also provide incentive for other businesses to aim to improve in future years.

Any business can be nominated and anyone can nominate a business simply by filling out a nomination form.

Ballarat is a thriving community and has been recognised as a prominent leader in provincial Australia.

Much of this success can be attributed to the excellence, the innovation and the national prominence of several of our leading businesses.

Over the years, these businesses have contributed so much to our city and have rarely sought anything in return.

Now, thanks to Commerce Ballarat and to the business awards, the Ballarat community has the chance to give some recognition back and to ensure such efforts do not go unnoticed and unrewarded.