Nominations open for Torquay Business Awards

ENTRIES have opened for the 2024 Torquay Business Awards presented by the Surf Coast Times, with businesses operating across the 3228 postcode who excel in their work practice invited to celebrate their achievements.

Established in 2022, the Torquay Business Awards began as a vocational service project of the Rotary Club of Torquay.

This year the awards are back and bigger than ever, and will be run by Commerce Torquay in partnership with the Rotary club and major sponsor the Surf Coast Times.

Commerce Torquay co-vice-president Sarah Minter said the awards aimed to celebrate the diverse and amazing array of businesses located in Torquay, from sole traders and emerging businesses, through to the large and established.

“Torquay, for the size of town, really has the most incredible array of businesses based here, so we’re keen to celebrate them,” she said.

“We’re keen to celebrate them as a business, but we know that for a lot of people in Torquay, they really care about the commitment to our community, so that might be through environment, through opportunities for local people to get work and giving back to charities or organisations.

“That kind of community care is also going to be a key consideration for us as well as business achievements.”

She said submissions were also welcome from businesses that primarily serviced Torquay, even if they were not strictly located within the 3228 postcode, while people who had had an amazing experience with a business were also encouraged to nominate that business to be considered for an award.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for exposure,” Ms Minter said.

“We really want it to be an opportunity for businesses to celebrate (their achievements), but we also want it to be an opportunity for the local Torquay business community to all come together for a night of celebration of the contributions that so many of our colleagues are making.”

Rotary Club of Torquay vocational service director Greg Birchall said businesses across the region were facing a challenging environment of economic uncertainty.

“Doing business here is still a tough gig with little room for mistakes or missteps and absolutely no time to rest on laurels,” he said.

“Award winners will need to run aligned, energised, focused and productive businesses with the right mix of business smarts, vision, stamina and resilience to push on through the fog of instability and general global and national turmoil.”

Times News Group managing director Warick Brown said the business awards were a great way to recognise and celebrate the success of working and living “in this great 3228 community”.

“Nominate yourself, nominate someone else and join with us at the awards night to celebrate commerce in Torquay,” Mr Brown said.

Entries in this year’s awards will close on September 20, with the winners set to be crowned at a gala event at The Sands Resort, Torquay, on November 18.

For more information, or to submit an entry, head to commercetorquay.com.au