Business awards set to evolve

REFLECTING the current economic conditions and challenges presented by COVID-19, the region’s annual Business Excellence Awards will be replaced by a series of events focusing on survival.

Titled the Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Connect Evolve Recover 2020, the six-month long campaign includes workshops and educational opportunities, promotion of local business, acknowledgement of loss, and celebrations of innovation and survival.

Rather than the formal gala dinner normally associated with the business awards, Connect Evolve Recover 2020 will culminate in relaxed party in October.

“It was clear very early that this was not a year that businesses would be in a position to put themselves forward for an award or would have the time to invest into that process,” said Commerce Ballarat CEO Jodie Gillett. “They are busy fighting for their existence.

“We felt that what was needed was a program of support for the business community.”

Most of the planned events will be free, and along with the education program there’ll be a TV ad campaign known as Ballarat’s Biggest Shout Out, with past business excellence award winners giving a shout out to their industry or sector.

Ballarat’s Biggest Shout Out will also encourage people to head online and tell positive stories about their experiences with the region’s businesses.

Importantly, the Connect Evolve Recover 2020 program is set to be flexible with scope to react to the unpredictable current landscape that businesses find themselves in.

“It’s something we can wrap around them, with promotion talking about telling their stories, keeping people thinking about our businesses, whether they’re open or closed or struggling or whatever situation they are in,” Ms Gillett said.

“But also providing a whole program of development opportunities that has the flexibility to flow and change according to what’s happening, because none of us really know what’s going to happen next week or the week after.”

Connect Evolve Recover 2020 is not just a celebration of survival and innovation during the pandemic.

Ms Gillet said it was also important to acknowledge that some businesses wouldn’t make it through the economic impacts of the lockdown, forced closures and preventative isolation.

“We know that there’s businesses that won’t survive this, and that’s just devastating but we are trying desperately hard to ensure that that number is as low as possible,” she said.

Like many, Commerce Ballarat was bracing for heavy impacts resulting from COVID-19, planning for at least 50 per cent of the more than 400 members not able to pay their fees in 2020.

That’s why a handful of the Connect Evolve Recover 2020 events will be paid, although most will be free.

“Our organisation is also fighting for its existence,” she said. “We have a goal not to leave anyone behind this year. In order to do that we’ve got to find some sources of revenue.”

The first events of Connect Evolve Recover 2020 are set to start next week with two workshops already confirmed.

The first, a 30-minuate web session, will be run by long-time Commerce collaborator Mike Boyle from Banjar Group. On Tuesday, 21 April he’ll be presenting his one-page business self-assessment and planning tool.

The second, a week later, will be run by Federation Business School and look at marking in hibernation.

For more information on Connect Evolve Recover 2020 and all Commerce Ballarat activity, visit commerceballarat.com.au.