More than 35 small businesses from the Newcastle area have made Finalists Lists of the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards. 

The successful businesses have been chosen from more than 5,500 entrants, in the nation’s pinnacle recognition awards programme that celebrates the achievements and considerable economic, social and cultural contribution of today’s 2.5 million small business operators from across the country. 

This year marks the 26th consecutive year of the Champion Awards and its most successful year to-date, with more entries received this year than any year prior. 

Free to enter and judged by an independent panel with small business experience, the Awards highlight the finest of Australia’s small businesses in the retail, services, and manufacturing industries across a total of more than 100 categories. 

An independent national survey recently commissioned by Precedent Productions, which coordinates the Awards, found that 63% of small business owners work more than five days a week.

The Woolcott Research-conducted survey also found that 57% of small business owners have a ‘side hustle’ of some form, primarily for financial-shortfall reasons. 

Steve Loe, Founder of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, says now more than ever is the time to strongly support the nation’s most hardest working sector. 

“I believe the resilience of Australia’s small business community is more evident today than ever before in recent memory, and it is absolutely deserving of national recognition. 

“The remarkable quantity and quality of submissions we received this year is testament to the triumphant spirit of so many small business operators – absolutely including those from Newcastle.”  

Winners of the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards will be revealed via two National Presentation Evening Gala events at Sydney’s The Star on 12 and 13 April 2024. 

The event will be hosted by Nine presenter and journalist, Jayne Azzopardi, at a National Presentation Gala featuring a star-studded entertainment line-up. 

Headline stage acts of this year’s event include ‘Eurovision Royalty’ Dami Im, the inspirational Harrison Craig, Johnny Manuel and the ‘practically perfect in every way’ star of the recent Australian production of Mary Poppins, Stefanie Jones. 

Newcastle area Finalists of the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards include: 

CATEGORY SMALL BUSINESS SUBURB 

Accounting Bottrell Business Consultants Newcastle 

Accounting Bookkeeping Services Beam Bookkeeping Newcastle West 

Allied Health Engage VR Lambton 

Allied Health Happy Dots Occupational Therapy for Children Cardiff 

Allied Health Hunter Coast Therapy Adamstown 

Automotive Mechanical Repairs Nova Auto Innovations Charlestown 

Bakery Farrar & Sons Bakehouse Newcastle 

Builder / Renovations UrbanOps Warners Bay 

Business Services Allied Health Admin Services Forster 

Business Services Premier Team Building Newcastle 

Cafe Inner Light Tea Rooms Nelson Bay 

Cafe JMY Group Newcastle 

Cafe The Girl and the Goat Cafe Greta 

Cosmetic Specialist Hunter Plastic Surgery Charlestown 

Dance Studio Prodigy Dance Australia Lambton 

Fashion Privvy Merewether 

Fashion Designer Lone Clothing Co Redhead 

Fast Food/Takeaway Shop Guido’s Gourmet Pizza Edgeworth 

Health Improvement Services Core Restore Co Redhead 

Home & Garden Improvement Nova Team Australia Beresfield 

Interior Designer Tailored HQ Newcastle 

Legal Services Neilson & Co Legal Branxton 

Manufacturing Deeps Engineering Salamander Bay 

Manufacturing Resourceful Living Kurri Kurri 

Martial Arts Dragon Taekwondo Terrey Hills 

Martial Arts Guy’s Karate School Rutherford 

Music Tuition Michael Nolan Vocal Studio Warners Bay 

New Retail Business Dust and Bullets Western East Maitland 

New Service Business From The Heart Edgeworth 

New Service Business Versair Eleebana 

Online Business Jaimie Abbott Communications Newcastle 

Painters GWP Grant Wood Painting Edgeworth 

Personal Counselling The Good Space Counselling Newcastle 

Real Estate Agency Clarke & Co Estate Agents East Maitland 

Real Estate Agency Empire Property Co. Erina 

Real Estate Agency Salt Property Newcastle Merewether 

Specialised Retail Small Business Cessnock Plaza News & Gifts Cessnock 

Tourism Newcastle Ghost Tours Elermore Vale 

Transport and Logistics Carter Heavy Haulage & Transport Rutherford 

Just one small business will be crowned Champion per category. 

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