A record 500 individual businesses have been nominated for the upcoming Quality Business Awards, giving some real insight into the positivity of the local business community according to Business Chamber Executive Jill Stewart.
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Nominations for the awards officially closed on Friday, with the Chamber overwhelmed by not only the number of nominations, but also the amount of acceptances that cited drought as their biggest challenge.
Over 75 per cent of accepted nominations cited drought as the biggest challenge, and those businesses stretched from primary producers, to cafes, hairdressers, retail outlets and many more.
Mrs Stewart believes the dry times are the reason this year’s awards have been so popular.
“The drought is obviously very tough on everyone, but the nominations show that everyone is out there doing their best to support one another – it has been really nice to see,” Mrs Stewart said.
“Positivity breeds positivity, and this can only help those businesses outlook on the future.”
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The 500 nominations beat last years benchmark by a total of 50 individual businesses, following a revamping of the categories, judging, and entire awards experience.
“To top last year’s mark in tough times – we’re stoked,” Mrs Stewart said.
The awards will see 30 categories named, with six finalists in each, as well as The Leader’s People’s Choice Award, which will be conducted via public poll in the lead up to the big night on August 10.
While all 500 businesses have been notified, they now need to go online to formally accept the nomination by July 8 to be in the running.
“It only takes 20 minutes and we can help, but they have to jump online to officially accept.”
In the coming fortnight the Chamber will also be announcing a big name guest speaker that is sure to lift the lid on the TRECC.
“We have got an amazing celebrity this year – a really high calibre guest speaker who will take the awards to the next level,” Mrs Stewart said.
“It truly is the gala business event of the year.”
So far ticket sales have been matching nomination, with half of the 800 seat capacity already booked, and that is even before the finalists in each category are named on July 20.
“We have been selling a lot of tables of ten rather than individual tickets this year – I think business owners and managers realise the value of taking their teams out for a great night after last year.”
