Business awards set for stellar year

THE 2025 edition of the Be.Bendigo Business Excellence Awards, which this time around is celebrating its 30th incarnation, is set for a bumper year after 650 nominations were received before the deadline of midnight on 30 April.

The nominations were announced at an event last week at Bendigo Airport, attended by more than 120 people, which also launched the next step of the awards – the application period – where nominated businesses and individuals are required to select the categories they would like to enter and complete their submissions.

Be.Bendigo CEO Hayley Tibbett, who described the turnout at the airport as amazing, agreed that it is all looking like being a huge year for the competition.

“It’s not easy at the moment, so it’s really good to be able to talk about the positive things, to celebrate local business,” she said.

 

 

“The application portal is now live and (nominees) have until 11.59pm on Sunday 29 June to get their applications in before the judging process starts.”

As a past winner of the Excellence in Hospitality Award in 2018 while at the helm of Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolates, Ms Tibbett encouraged all nominated businesses and individuals to continue to the next phase.

“It was great for my team as well as personally,” she said. “We used it as very much a team building thing.

“It’s the passion that you put into it that the judges want to see.

“That’s what makes you different.”

If you or your business has received a nomination, you can proceed to the next phase of the program via the portal on the Business Excellence Awards website.