About
Local business is the spark and vital force that drives our own community and underpins our national economy.
Here in Lismore, the regional centre of the Northern Rivers, our business operators are known for their tenacity, innovation, strength, creativity, passion and above all adaptability in face of adversity. They not only defy but redefine the challenges they are thrown.
We believe they deserve to be celebrated! Inspired by the same spirit and partnering for the first time with The Lismore App, we welcome you to the 2021 Lismore Business Awards! [Aims of the Awards]
Created as an annual celebration to recognise the best in our business community and acknowledge the impact they have every day for our communities across the region. Creating your jobs, supporting your clubs, which in turn supports our community. #lccicommunity #golocalfirst
19 Categories, 20 Awards and 2021 unique reasons for us to be proud of our success – TOGETHER!
Timeline
- Entries Open: Tuesday 25 May 2021. Entries Close: Monday
2128 June 2021. - Judging: Monday 28 June 2021 – Friday 16 July 2021
- Finalists announced (local): 21 July w/c 9 August, first to finalists, then announced on 12 August 2021
- Local winners announced: 19 August (those moving forward to the Regional Awards will be contacted by Business NSW)
- Regional Awards: 18 September 2021
- Local Celebration: Winners celebrated, and the Lismore Business of the Year announced at a red carpet event, rescheduled for October to coincide with Small Business Month.
To ensure fairness and integrity, the judging process is completely independent and managed by Business NSW.
We apologise for the shift in dates for announcement of local finalists, caused by a range of factors some of which were out of our control.
2021 Award Categories: Local to Regional
Winners of this category will go to Regionals but do not proceed to the State Business Awards.
Retail and Personal Services
This award acknowledges businesses of excellence involved in the sale of products and services from a physical retail precinct building or a home based businesses retailing products and services (with stock on premises, held or made, sold from the home or sold online).
WInner:
- Lazuli and Co (lazuliandco.com.au)
Finalists:
- Rainbow Earthlings
- Fitness Manouvers
- Mel’s Melting Moments Soy Candles
- PJs Fruit and Veg
- Northern Rivers Tiles & Mosaics
- Kidsnest
- Fundies Wholefood Market
- Little Polli and the Blackbird
- Living Entertainment North Coast
Trade, Construction & Manufacturing
This award acknowledges business excellence in the delivery of trade services, construction services and value add manufacturing.
Winner:
- Simply Clean (simplyclean.com.au)
Finalists:
- AZNU Automotive
- Warrior Refrigeration
- Joel Jensen Constructions
Business & Professional Services
This awards acknowledges businesses for their excellence in the provision of services in the areas of law, accounting, finance, marketing, media and IT as a firm or independent consultancy business.
Winner:
- Connect Business Solutions (connecta.com.au)
Finalists:
- SOS Phone Repairs Lismore
Health, Care & Wellness Industries
This award acknowledges enterprises for excellence in the provision of high quality care and customer service within the health, care and wellness industries.
Winner:
- Summit Sport and Fitness Centre (summitcentre.com.au)
Finalists:
- Fitness Manouvers
- Angela Slattery Osteopath
- Fit Mums N Bubs
- Alstonville Osteopathy – Goonellabah Clinic
Agriculture & Primary Industries
A brand new category giving credit for our regional heart.
This award acknowledges business excellence in agriculture and primary industries.
Growers, farmers, and on those whose business is based on the land – this one is for you.
Winner:
- Five Sixty Farms (fivesixtyfarms.com.au)
Tourism & Visitor Experience
This award recognises businesses delivering services and experiences to tourism and visitor audiences locally and further afield.
Finalists:
Unfortunately there were no entries in this category for 2021.
2021 Special Award Categories
Outstanding Dining and Hospitality
Brand New Category – Lismore has an incredible food scene and it is beginning to be recognised around the country as the go to destination to eat your heart out! Your feedback was foodies want their own category so we made one especially. This award recognises excellence in dining and hospitality so plate up your best entry.
As this is a a local only category we also encourage entrants who would like the chance to proceed to the Regional Awards to also enter Tourism and Visitor Experience and also Excellence in Micro, Small or Business for your size.
WInner:
- The Pickled Herd (facebook.com/thepickledherd)
Finalists:
- The Eltham Hotel
Safework NSW Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety
The Workplace Health and Safety category is a specific category and the winner for this will proceed to the Safework NSW Awards which are separate from the Business NSW awards.
More information at safework.nsw.gov.au/advice-and-resources/campaigns/safework-awards
2021 Award Categories: Regional to State
Winners of these categories will go to from Local to Regionals and then on to the State Business Awards.
Outstanding Employee
The Outstanding Employee Award recognises an inspirational employee who has demonstrated a passion for their role and a commitment to their workplace and community.
Winners:
- Brad Ambridge, Armsign (armsign.com.au)
- Angela Bontea, CASPA Services Ltd (caspa.org.au)
Finalists:
- Mallee Carter, Summerland Credit Union
- Ashleigh McLean, Connect Business Solutions
- Wendy Knight, Ngunya Jarjum
- Jillian Smith, Horn’s Gas & Plumbing
Outstanding Young Business Leader (35 and under)
The Outstanding Young Business Leader award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 35 or under who demonstrates outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas.
Winner:
- Levi Loughlin, Herne’sSecurity
Finalists:
- Brad Hicks, Fitness Kidz
- Joshua Chapman, SOS Phone Repairs
- Joel Jensen, Joel Jensen Constructions
- Peta Tillett, Lazuli and Co
- Jessica Grace, CASPA Services
- Jacob Walsh, CASPA Services
Outstanding Business Leader (36 and over)
The Outstanding Business Leader award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 36 or over who demonstrates outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas, whilst providing leadership to the new generation.
Winner:
- Hayley Brown, Warrior Refrigeration/Horne’s Gas & Plumbing (hornsgasservice.com.au)
Employer of Choice
The Employer of Choice Award recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create stimulating and supportive workplace environments to maximise the full potential of their workforce.
Winner:
- Lazuli and Co (lazuliandco.com.au)
Excellence in Innovation
The Excellence in Innovation Award recognises a business that has made significant contributions to their industry or implemented innovative solutions for new and existing business needs through the introduction or improvement of an idea, method, technology, process or application.
Finalists:
Unfortunately there were no finalists in this category for 2021.
Excellence in Sustainability
The Excellence in Sustainability Award recognises a business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices and is working to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment.
Finalists:
Unfortunately there were no finalists in this category for 2021.
Outstanding Community Organisation
The Outstanding Community Organisation Award recognises an organisation that works to improve the social, cultural or environmental wellbeing of the community.
Winner:
- Friends of the Koala (friendsofthekoala.org)
Highly Commended:
- Ngunya Jarjum (ngunyajarjum.com)
- Lifeline Northern NSW (lifelinedirect.org.au/northernnsw)
- Northern Rivers Conservatorium (nrcac.edu.au)
Outstanding Start Up
The Outstanding Start-up Award recognises a start-up business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the potential to achieve future success.
Winner:
- Hanging Rock Flowers (hangingrockflowers.com.au)
Finalists:
- Rainbow Earthlings
- Warrior Refrigeration
- Evolve Allied Healthcare
- Kidsnest
- Space Bars Gelato
Excellence in Micro Business (less than 5 employees)
The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
Winner:
- Lazuli and Co (lazuliandco.com.au)
Highly Commended:
- Fitness Manouvers (fitnessmanouvers.com)
Finalists:
- Living Entertainment North Coast
- Fit Mums N Bubs
- Mel’s Melting Moments Soy Candles
Excellence in Small Business (5-20 employees)
The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
Winner:
- Simply Clean (simplyclean.com.au)
Finalists:
- PJs Fruit and Veg
- Joel Jensen Constructions
Excellence in Business (21+ employees)
The Excellence in Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
Winner:
- Summit Sport and Fitness Centre (summitcentre.com.au)
Finalists:
- The Eltham Hotel
- Connect Business Solutions
- Summerland Credit Union
Love supporting Local Business?
Elevate your brand and be showcased around the region by sponsoring the the biggest Business Awards in the Northern Rivers.
We have packages and ways to be involved to suit all business sizes.
If you would like information more on how you can support the 2021 Business Awards, we would love to talk with you.
2021 Business Excellence Awards proudly brought to you by Lismore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
p 0448 833 806 (all enquiries)
e admin@lismorechamber.com.au