Commerce Ballarat awards underway

THE 2019 Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards were launched last Thursday evening at the Pub with Two Names.

Ballarat’s business community gathered to network, kick off the awards process and officially open nominations. Any person can enter their Ballarat business and get involved with the awards.

The process is not solely about being a winner, but for businesses to review, get feedback and support, to improve, strengthen and gain exposure, which enriches Ballarat’s economy.

Nick Thurlbeck is the Chair of Commerce Ballarat and the area business manager of PFD Food Services, which has been a finalist and winner in the awards before.

“The experience our business got out of it was to be able to go and have a really in depth look at what we do, what our processes are, find some gaps in what we do and realise how to address them,” he said.

“That’s really the true essence of what the business awards are.”

Whiteheads Timber Sales has been a finalist in the awards process previously and general manager, Wayne Dennett said the process makes you stop to re-evaluate, reassess and review.

“It brings you back to looking at your core business,” Mr Dennett said.

“The criteria really makes you stop and look at individual aspects of your business and everything from your reporting, through to your social presence.

“We stopped and looked at a lot of the groups that we actually support. It brings into focus how much you do from that community side of things as well.”

One-on-one coaching and mentoring is available through the awards process. This was invaluable Mr Dennett said.

Professor Christina Lee has been Federation Business School’s Dean since October and said the awards will be a great opportunity for the school to engage with Ballarat and learn from the city’s business people.

“It’s really important to be part of the community,” Professor Lee said. “Because it’s a business school, you don’t want it to just be theoretical. We want to be practical and we need the support of businesses in the community because we emphasise more integrated learning, all about giving students practice,” she said.

To nominate a business and find out more head to commerceballarat.com.au.

Key dates to note in the 2019 awards calendar are the opening of applications on Tuesday, 16 April, the closure of early bird applications on Tuesday, 4 June, the closure of applications on Tuesday, 11 June, the finalist event on Tuesday, 23 July and the gala presentation dinner on Thursday, 29 August.