By BRIDGET COOK
GREENVIEW Accounting and Wastech Engineering know all about the benefits of being involved in their local business awards program.
They two businesses were crowned the overall winners of their respective local business awards – Casey and Cardinia – in 2013 which opened up an array of opportunities for them and made them look at all aspects of their business when they entered them.
This year the two councils have joined forces to expand their awards programs and businesses have just over a week left to enter the inaugural Casey Cardinia Business Awards.
Greenview Accounting business manager Jodie Smith said being crowned Cardinia Business of the Year in 2013 was great, but just entering the awards was a good process for the business to go through.
“Entering the business awards gave us the opportunity to look at our business from the outside in,” she said.
“It helped to keep us on track to achieve our goals we had set in our business plan for the next 12 months.
“The business awards highlighted the things we did very well and the things that we didn’t do so well that needs some improvement.”
Ms Smith urged others businesses to enter this year’s awards.
“It’s not too late, entries close on Friday 16 May,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity to review and work on your own business, so just go for it.”
Wastech Engineering managing director Neil Bone said being involved in the Casey Business Awards was beneficial from the start to the end.
“The awards process allowed us to review our business plan and performance in order to submit accurate information,” he said.
“Winning the awards has been fantastic for internal morale and motivation, and was the catalyst for us to review and re-affirm our business vision and values throughout the whole business – a very empowering activity.
“We used the prize money from the awards to invest in our staff by establishing a dedicated 25-seat training room with state-of-the-art presentation facilities, embedding our culture of continuous improvement.”
Mr Bone also urged other business to get involved in the awards this year.
“The process of entering the awards allowed us to really take stock of the business from many angles, highlighting our existing strengths as well as future opportunities,” he said.
“It is a very valuable and enlightening process and I strongly encourage other local businesses to take part this year.”
The 2014 Casey Cardinia Business Awards comprises 10 category awards, two judges’ awards and the award for Casey Cardinia Business of the Year.
Businesses are eligible to enter in one category and then winners are automatically nominated for Business of the Year Award.
Winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner on 9 October.
For further information and to download an application form, visit www.caseycardinia.com.au/businessawards.
