Nominations are now open for the 2019 Gwydir Community Business Awards. Now in its 22nd year, the Awards aim to celebrate the achievements of local Vocational Education students and businesses throughout the shire.
The Awards are broken up into the following categories:
Senior Employee/ Proprietor 30yrs and over, Junior Employee under 30yrs, Small Business (5 employees or less) and Large Business (5 or more).
A fifth category, the ‘Enterprise with Energy’ Award, has been added this year as a result of ‘The Idea Factory – Enterprise with Energy’ initiative between Warialda High School and Gwydir Shire Council. This initiative aims to encourage Warialda High school students, as well as others with great business ideas, to jump in and start their own small business. The initiative will see budding entrepreneurs submit their business idea to a panel of judges.
Along the way, these applicants will be provided with advice and support to fully develop their concept, and to ensure their ideas become a viable and sustainable business. Information such as budgeting, business planning, marketing and tips to navigate red tape will be provided through access to expert business advisors.
To further assist, each applicant will be assigned a business mentor. These mentors are local businessmen and women with extensive experience in their chosen field who will advise and guide the start-up on a range of business matters.
An added incentive of $500 for the best high school business ideas, and $1,000 for the best community business idea will be awarded with the best business ideas announced at this year’s Business Awards.
“We are really hoping that locals will show support for their favourite local businesses and nominate them for the awards” said Georgia Standerwick, Marketing and Promotions Team Leader for Gwydir Shire Council. “With many businesses doing it tough this year during one the worst droughts in history, it is important to celebrate the successes in what is a really hard economic climate”.
Nomination forms can be collected from the Bingara and Warialda Newsagency as well as the Bingara and Warialda Council offices. Nominations close Friday 25th October.
The Awards night will be held on Thursday 22nd November at the Warialda Town Hall. For more information contact Georgia Standerwick on 0409 901 540 or email gstanderwick@gwydir.nsw.gov.au
