Excitement grows for 2025 Torquay Business Awards

SEATS are filling fast for the 2025 Torquay Business Awards, presented by the Surf Coast Times, which will see the 3228 postcode’s business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators celebrated for their achievements.

Last week, Commerce Torquay in partnership with the Rotary Club of Torquay, revealed the 25 businesses shortlisted for this year’s awards, which will be presented across 12 different categories.

Coastal Nectar, a small operation specialising in small batch local raw honey and bee educational incursions for kindergartens and primary schools, is among the three businesses in the running to take home this year’s Business of the Year Award.

Bringing a “modern twist” to a practice that has a 9,000-year history, Coastal Nectar also travels around Australia to teach youngsters about honey — how it is a “snapshot of each season in bloom” — and the importance of protecting our pollinators.

 

 

Founder Thomas Earls, better known as “beekeeper Tom”, said he was grateful for the recognition and thanked his parents for their “free labour” over the years, and the loyal “functioning honey addicts” and local schools that have continued to support the business.

“The business turns five this year, so it’s really nice — when you start a business, you’re not really sure the full direction it’s going to go.

“I’m just really excited for the future.”

Therapeutic surfing charity Ocean Mind and low waste restaurant Samesyn 2.0 are also in the running for the top gong.

Ocean Mind interim chief executive Ben Wilkinson said the acknowledgement had offered a welcome reminder to celebrate all the non-profit organisation had achieved over its nine years of operation.

The organisation removes barriers to access mental health supports by offering its programs to families and young people for free, and is working towards growing its capacity to expand that impact.

 

 

“We’re incredibly grateful and proud. In business, you get caught up in what you’re doing, and for us, we probably don’t take many opportunities to really stop and reflect and acknowledge the good things we have done,” Wilkinson said.

“Being a finalist in the Business of the Year Award is just a chance for us to stop and recognise ‘Hey, we’re doing some good things’, and other people are noticing that as well.”

Now in its fourth year, the Torquay Business Awards recognised the achievements and community contributions of businesses of all sizes and from all industries operating across the 3228 postcode.

This year’s winners will be announced at a gala event at The Sands on Thursday, September 4.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the event, head to commercetorquay.com.au