A Newcastle bookkeeping service, a plastic surgeon in Charlestown, an Adamstown pilates studio and a manufacturing plant in Beresfield are among the seven Hunter small businesses named 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Award winners at an event in Sydney at the weekend.
Beam Bookkeeping – Newcastle (Accounting Bookkeeping Services), Creative Sensory Spaces – Hamilton (Specialised Small Business), Farrar & Sons Bakehouse – Newcastle (Bakery), Nova Team Australia – Beresfield (Business Growth Award), Hunter Plastic Surgery – Charlestown (Cosmetic Specialist), Tailored HQ – Newcastle (Interior Designer) and Lifestyle Pilates & Rehabilitation Studio – Adamstown (Yoga and Pilates Services) were all named winners in a record list of entries.
Now in its 26th year, the Australian Small Business Champion Awards attracted more than 5,500 entries from across the country – the largest number to date.
The annual celebration was held at Sydney’s The Star on 12 and 13 April, with winners receiving a customised statuette trophy and certificate.
The ASBCA is the only recognition awards program that celebrates the achievements and economic, social and cultural contribution of today’s 2.5 million Australian small business operators.
They specifically highlight the finest small businesses in the retail, services, and manufacturing industries.
“This year’s awards saw more than 5,500 small business submissions from cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns in every Australian state and territory,” said founder Steve Loe.
“We’ve been running the Champion Awards program since 1999 and I must say, this year’s submissions from the Newcastle and Hunter regions spoke volumes of the resilience of these small business operators during tough times.
“Operating a small business today requires steadfast commitment, leadership, savviness, creativity, people skills, vision, social consciousness and a spirited drive – all elements of success that our independent judging panel pinpointed as among the key reasons for their selections of this year’s champions.
“I am blown away by the growth of this program and its intensifying spotlight on the most deserving small business operators, who valiantly serve their communities and encourage us all to strive for success with ample drive, determination and fortitude,” added Mr Loe.
Hosted by popular Nine presenter and journalist Jayne Azzopardi and attended by more than 2,000 small businesspeople, this year’s National Presentation Gala featured star-studded entertainment fitting to the Champion Awards’ biggest year in more than a quarter of a century.
Dami Im, Harrison Craig, Johnny Manuel and Stefanie Jones were among the red-carpet event’s headline stage acts.
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