Biz Awards expands

There are also four special award categories, and the highly coveted Business of the Year award.

All businesses nominated in the business categories are automatically in the running for Business of the Year.

Nominations are open now, and close on July 5.

Nomination information sessions will be held next week for anyone who needs any advice on what to include in their nominations.

Chamber chief executive Kate Pitt said the new awards are designed to make the awards more inclusive of the types of businesses found in the district.

The new categories are Excellence in Marketing, Excellence in Agribusiness and Excellence in Manufacturing & Trade.

“We are very aware of the strong trade and construction sector, and we are obviously a strong rural community,” Ms Pitt said.

“We wanted the award categories to reflect what we find in our Edward River region.

“We’re also inviting nominations for our two scholarships - the Chamber Riggall Fellowship and the new Will McKern Scholarship for Outstanding Construction/Trade Apprentice.”

Ms Pitt said the awards would not be possible without the support of platinum sponsors Deniliquin Pastoral Times and Ace Radio.

And she has encouraged other businesses interested in sponsoring an award category or the scholarship named in Will McKern’s honour to reach out.

Helping chamber to coordinate this year’s business awards is Helen Flisher, who has invited people to attend the nomination information sessions for more details.

The first will be held at The Crossing Cafe from 8am on Wednesday, in place of council’s regular monthly ‘Coffee with Chamber’.

Another will be also be held on Wednesday from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the Deni RSL.

“We can provide advice on what to include in your nomination forms that give you the best chance of success,” Mrs Flisher said.

“A number of our award categories are aligned with the regional and state business awards, with winners automatically moving on to the next level as a finalist, so nominations should reflect that.”

The full list of award categories is as follows:

Individual awards

• Outstanding Employee

• Outstanding Young Business Leader

• Outstanding Business Leader (20 Employees & under)

• Outstanding Business Leader (21 Employees & over)

• Excellence in Customer Service

Business awards

• Employer of Choice (20 Employees & under)

• Employer of Choice (21 Employees & over)

• Excellence in Customer Service

• Excellence in Sustainability

• Outstanding Community Organisation

• Outstanding New Business

• Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

• Excellence in Marketing

• Excellence in Agribusiness

• Excellence in Manufacturing & Trade

• Excellence in Micro Business (Under 5 Employees)

• Excellence in Small Business (20 Employees & under)

• Excellence in Large Business(21Employees & over)

• Outstanding Visitor Experience

Special swards

• Deniliquin Business Chamber/Gaye Riggall Scholarship

• Norm Brennan Community Contribution

• Will McKern Scholarship - Outstanding Construction/Trade Apprentice

• Chamber Champion

To nominate, go to https://deniliquin.awardsplatform.com/.