Finalists named in business awards

THE 2025 Be.Bendigo Business Excellence Awards finalists have been revealed across twenty categories who will now move on to an in-person interview phase ahead of the gala presentation night in August.

Notable finalists in multiple categories include Girton Grammar School (Community Minded Award, Customer Focussed Award and Leader of the Year Award – principal Dr Emma O’Reilly) and Bendigo Telco (Community Minded Award, Technology and Digital Award).

Bendigo Brittle, Collins Honey, Mackenzie Quarters and Noble Bootleggers Distilling Co have been shortlisted for the hotly contested Gastronomy Award, while Bendigo Heritage Attractions and Bendigo Jockey Club are up against each other in the Events and Tourism Award.

Meanwhile, the finalists for the Emerging and Energised Award, eligible to businesses operating for at least 12 months, but less than three years as of 2 April 2025, are Elevate Orthotics and Prosthetics, Eye-Spy Surveillance, Making Cents of Money, Omari Bendigo and Ultra Aesthetics.

Be.Bendigo CEO Hayley Tibbet said the list of finalists is a reflection of the variety of businesses in the region.

“We’ve got those energised and emerging businesses that are just 12 months old, through to your really established businesses, and there’s international (organisations) in there as well,” she said.

“It shows you the diversity that we have.

“The average person on the street doesn’t realise the level of business in Bendigo, whether that be manufacturing bricks and mortar through to your tech companies.”

Ms Tibbet said the gala night will be extra special this year as it celebrates the 30th edition of the awards.

“It’ll be great to look back at everything that’s come before,” she said.

“I know how much the awards mean to me and what they did for my business. (That’s why) I’m so invested in them.”

For the entire list of finalists, visit the Be.Bendigo Business Excellence Awards website.