NOMINATIONS are now open for awards celebrating business excellence in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
The Federation University Commerce Ballarat business excellence awards aim to showcase local businesses and their achievements.<\/p>\n
Businesses can nominate themselves or anyone can nominate a business they see worthy.<\/p>\n
Being involved in the awards is about more than winning as they provide an opportunity for businesses to undertake self-assessment and reflect on their potential for growth and development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe application is designed to give the businesses an opportunity to do a complete review of what\u2019s been happening over the past 12 months, a chance to come together with their teams and to do a bit of an overhaul of the business plan,\u201d said Commerce Ballarat CEO Jodie Gillett.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing through the process will help them highlight areas of their business which need further development.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finalists will also receive promotion, networking opportunities and advice from industry professionals.<\/p>\n
Ms Gillett said the awards are an opportunity for the community to discover Ballarat businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the chance for people to learn about what\u2019s going on in business they didn\u2019t know and realising that wow I don\u2019t need to go out of town for that product or service because it\u2019s available here in Ballarat,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEncouraging that strive for excellence as a city is really important.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage businesses to nominate themselves, this is not a popularity contest it\u2019s a business award.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once applications close a judging panel of experienced businesspeople review entrants.<\/p>\n
Site visits are then conducted for the finalists and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner in late August.<\/p>\n
RADcentre was awarded Federation University Business of the Year in 2022 and director Chris Radford said the experience was an amazing chance to look internally at how enterprise was operating.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really wanted to do the reflection part of the questions because it was a great opportunity to step away from the business for a period of time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did the application process as a team, and we really enjoyed the learning process that came from it all.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely given our business a profile boost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Radford said he encourages all businesses to apply as the process is beneficial to all and applicants receive excellent support from Commerce Ballarat and the judges.<\/p>\n