Business awards finalists revealed

THE finalists for this year’s Federation University Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards were announced on Thursday morning.

Forty-three nominees are competing across 14 categories.

Inception Planning is up for both the Professional Services Business Award and the SME Business Award, and owner Leah Clark said being in the running has been validating.

“My business started four years ago with just me for 12 months in my loungeroom during COVID,” she said.

“To now be in a shop with an amazing team behind me is amazing, and it’s been a good experience for me to be able to sit back and look at that.

“I’m so excited to be a part of this process. I already feel like I’ve won, so whatever happens at the end, being judged is the icing on the cake for me.”

Little Ivory Haus, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, and Art Social House are up for the Creative Industries Business Award while the Customer Service Award nominees are Coronet Breakfast and Lunch Bar, Good Games Ballarat, and Piano Bar Ballarat.

Finalists in the Family Business category include Ballan Local Butcher, Ballarat Indoor Go Karts, Laserforce and Entertainment Centre, and Luv-a-Duck.

Ballarat and District Chiropractic Centre, Restore Hand Therapy, and Uplift Therapy, are in the running for the Health and Wellbeing Business Award.

Tickit Australia is up for the Innovation Award alongside Ballarat Foundation, and Luv-a-Duck, and one of the business’ seven co-directors Lou Campana said their application process has highlighted how the company can grow.

“We thought about filling out the application just to be able to learn about ourselves and to get to network with other businesses,” he said.

“We shared it around between the directors based on what everyone specialises in. It was quite a challenge, some of the questions, but it was a good process to learn from and see what we’re not doing.

“We know we were doing a few things but there’s some things we’re not doing which we’ll take and try to fix those issues in the next couple months.”

Leah Clark’s (far right) company Inception Planning was established four years ago and is a finalist in the Professional Services Business, and the SME Business categories. Photo: SUPPLIED

Pinarc Disability Support, RSM Australia, and Y Ballarat are vying for the Large Business Award, and the Micro/Home Based Business Award Clasch Design, Lucida Boutique Dress Hire Ballarat, or Paws for Talk.

Finalists in the Newcomer category are Ballarat 3D Prototypes, Itinerant Spirits, and Santa Photos Australia, while Ballarat Foundation, BGT Jobs and Training Ballarat, and Y Ballarat are up for the Not for Profit Business Award.

Chris Packer and Associates, and Colliers Ballarat are also in the running for the Professional Services Business Award, with Hotel Canberra, and OTL Consulting the remaining nominees in line for the SME Business Award.

Commerce Ballarat board member Fiona Murphy spoke to attendees during the finalist function. Photo: EDWINA WILLIAMS

Restaurants, Cafes and Pubs Business Award nominees are Black Cat Truffles by Liam Downes, Flying Chillies, and Turret Cafe and Catering.

Ballan Local Butcher, Good Games Ballarat, and The Source Bulk Foods are battling for the Retail Business Award, and Ballarat Roadworthy Centre, DMS Electrical Contracting, and Waldrons Solar Solutions are in the final round for the Trade Business Award.

The winners will be announced during a gala event on Thursday 29 August.