The best local businesses have been named as finalists in the 2017 Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards.
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Forty-eight finalists were named in 16 different categories recognising a wide variety of business types from cafes to manufacturers, tourist attractions to innovators, franchisers, creative industries and more.
Commerce Ballarat chair David Wright said businesses named as finalists had demonstrated leadership in their field and set a standard to which other businesses could aspire to.
“These businesses represent innovation, resourcefulness and a great foundation on which Ballarat is built and will build on in the future,” he said.
SEE ALL THE FINALISTS HERE
Mr Wright said the challenge now for finalists was to find ways to maintain the high quality of their businesses and innovate to stay ahead of competitors.
Federation Business School executive dean Associate Professor Bob O’Shea said promoting business excellence was “a long game to promote a thriving community”.
“What we are doing with this is trying to promote healthy competition between businesses,” he said.
“Through competition everyone gets better and the bar gets raised. Business gets better, business grows, customers shop right here in town and when that happens the whole community benefits with an increase in jobs, increase in financial security and better access to services.”
Griffin Burgers’ owner Sam Griffin was thrilled to be named a first-time finalist in the City of Ballarat Restaurants, Cafes and Pubs Business Award.
“We’ve just been open two years last week and was so busy I didn’t even realise it,” he said.
“We were nominated by customers for our customer service and food, and was named a finalist for our food. It’s huge and awesome, especially just in our second year and I think even getting this far is going to be massive for the business.”
Starting any new business involves countless hours and endless stamina, and now two years down the track you’re more likely to find Mr Griffin running the business than cooking in the Sturt St shop. He manages about 20 hours serving and cooking burgers and dozens more doing administrative jobs.
“I don’t do as many hours now in the shop, only about 20 hours a week, but outside it never really stops. You mix business with social life so I’ll be watching a movie and replying to emails, or doing invoices on a Sunday night. It doesn’t stop but it’s rewarding and doesn’t feel like work when you do it for yourself.”
The Business Excellence Awards winners will be named at an awards ceremony on August 24.
BALLARAT BUSINESS AWARDS FINALISTS
Regional Development Australia – Grampians Paddock to Plate Business Award
Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat
Black Cat Truffles
Salt Kitchen Charcuterie
Visit Ballarat Special Events and Attractions Business Award
Creswick Woollen Mills
Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka
Regional Touring
Harwood Andrews Franchise/Buying Group Business Award
Boost Juice Ballarat
RAMS Home Loan Centre Ballarat
The Athletes Foot
Federation Business School Innovation Award
Ballarat Community Health
Dearly Departed
Pipe Pro Directional Drilling
GMHBA Health and Wellbeing Business Award
Ballarat Veterinary Practice
St John of God Ballarat Hospital
UFS Dispensaries
The WIN Network Customer Service Award
Adroit Insurance Group
Oak Tree Ballarat Dental
Sovereign Press
Loreto College E-Commerce and Online Award
Gove Cycles & Bike Rack Café
Stems Flower Market
The Provincial Hotel
Commerce Ballarat Manufacturing Award
Advanced Cabinetry
Albins Performance Transmissions
Ceramet
CGU Insurance Community and Government Award
Ballarat Community Health
Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre
Uniting Ballarat
The Courier New & Emerging Business Award
Clarke Clean
East India Trading Company
The Yacht Club
City of Ballarat Restaurants, Cafes and Pub’s Business Award
Carboni’s Italian Kitchen
Hop Temple
Griffin Burger
Central Highlands Water Trade Business Award
Advanced Cabinetry
G.J. Gardner Homes Ballarat
Pipe Pro Directional Drilling
Commerce Ballarat Creative Industries Business Award
Hstudios
MAKE Art School
Overwrought Sculpture Garden and Gallery
Mercure Hotel and Convention Centre Professional Service Business Award
Adroit Insurance Group
Sharp Accounting
Telstra Business Centre Plus IT
Power FM Small Business Award
Central Victorian Investments
Raceline Motorcycles
The Scape Artist
Stockland Wendouree Retail Business Award
Boost Juice
Sinclair Meats
Specsavers Optometrists Ballarat and Wendouree