Virtual celebration for business community

CATEGORY winners of the Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards will be announced via a livestreamed gala event.

To be held on the evening of Thursday, 7 October from 7pm, viewers at home will be able to see all the finalists and find out who the winners are.

Commerce Ballarat CEO Jodie Gillett said attendees will also enjoy entertainment throughout the night.

“Once all of the categories have been announced, we will be flicking into afterparty mode,” she said.

“We are grateful that Piano Bar Ballarat have offered to help us stream this out to the community. We’ve got three of their fantastic performers, Dani Fry, Andy Pobjoy and Shandelle Cooke, and a special visit from former Ballarat local David Hobson.

“We’re encouraging the entire community to get involved, because everyone can watch. Send businesses a message of support, tell them how much you love and appreciate the work they’ve done in these difficult times.”

Regional Development Australia Grampians is sponsoring the Eat Drink West Paddock to Plate category.

RDA chair Stuart Benjamin said it’s critical to celebrate the area’s business success, and to put enterprises on a pedestal that everyone to learn from.

“We’re proud to work with Commerce Ballarat and Eat Drink West to promote agribusinesses that grow and then market paddock to plate goods right across our region, and we’re pleased to encompass Ballarat’s surrounding farming areas,” he said.

“Agriculture is our largest economic sector so it’s important to celebrate it.”

Mr Benjamin said he is grateful to Commerce Ballarat for working hard to ensure the Awards run this year, as they gives business owners and their staff hope, and “something to look forward to.”

A wrap-up party event including the announcement of the Federation Business School Business of the Year will be held on Thursday, 25 November.

“That’s going to be the party of all parties… to try and put away 2020 and 2021, and look forward to 2022,” Ms Gillett said.

Mr Benjamin encourages brands to take a leap and try a new way of doing business in the coming months.

“Now is the time to take some risks with business and don’t go back to doing it the same way that you did in the times before the pandemic.

“We can use the pandemic as an excuse to try new things because if it fails, we can blame it, but if it’s a success, we’ve grown our businesses,” he said.

Members of the public can tune into the category winners’ presentation evening at facebook.com/CommerceBallarat or on the Piano Bar YouTube page at bit.ly/3uhirE8.

For those wishing to put a cherry on top of the evening, a list of hospitality venues to order takeaway at, or book into, and dinner packages, are listed on bit.ly/3m8Zdgt.