Judges ready for excellence

Geelong Business Excellence Awards judging panelists Simon Flowers and Robert Hunter say there is plenty that local business can get out of entering Australia’s longest-running business prize.

The 2023 Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEA) will celebrate and recognise businesses across the region that inspire others around them with their passion, courage and resilience to innovate, improve and ultimately succeed.

Established in 1986 and managed by the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, the awards are the oldest continually running program of its kind in Australia and provide significant recognition for businesses achievements and performance.

With entries opening yesterday (Thursday, May 4), chair of judging Simon Flowers invited locals and their businesses to throw their hat in the ring for the prestigious award honours.

“People enter for different reasons and it’s pretty exciting to see all the businesses, some of which people have never heard of, doing great things in the Geelong community.

“The awards are one of the longest running in Australia and we’ve put a lot of time and effort into making them rigid and hard to win… when you do win, it’s well deserved.

“It’s just fantastic; the awards provide an opportunity for people to promote their business and how well they are going.

“You are up against a whole diversity of businesses within the Geelong area, so to actually walk away with a win, mean’s you’ve got a really great business.

“All the judges will mark the written entries and score them… if you’ve got a high enough score, then you’re a finalist and get a site visit.

“The scores are then added up from the visit and prior entry document, and the winners are then announced.”

As a former GBEA Business of the Year winner and now deputy chair of Judging, Robert Hunter has firsthand experience of just how amazing an opportunity it is to enter and win an award.

“In 2015, we put an application in when I was director of SC Technology Group and we won on our first attempt,” Mr Hunter said.

“It was absolutely brilliant to fill in the application and do a deep dive into the business… it was so beneficial to my business at the time.

“I couldn’t believe the credibility it gave us from winning. It just completely improves your business and makes you think and work on everything as a result.

“Overall, the exposure and the networking you can get out of the awards is incredibly worth it.”

The winners of the 2023 Geelong Business Excellence Awards will be announced on October 19.

For more information about the awards and how to enter, head to gbea.com.au