KOSMAC and Clemens Optometrists has taken the top honour at the Powercor Australia Bendigo Business Excellence Awards.
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Kosmac and Clemens Optometrists was named business of the year after winning the service professional category at Friday night's Gala Presentation Dinner.
Practice manager Michelle Thurlow said the awards were a great chance for businesses to shine.
"Just to be here is an honour," she said.
More than 400 people attended the event at the All Seasons Hotel.
There was plenty of glitz and glamour - men donned suits, women wore their finest dresses and walked the red carpet before posing for photographs.
Bendigo Business Excellence Awards chairman Gerard House said the awards were now in their 20th year.
He said the awards were all about the recognition of excellence in business.
"There's been an assessment made by independent representatives of the community," he said.
"And the whole idea behind it is people are nominated, they then get the opportunity to fill in an entry form.
"Based on that entry they are judged and shortlisted.
"Those that are shortlisted then go through a fair bit of scrutiny and a site inspection and realistically, what the judges do is make an assessment whether the businesses lives up to or exceeds their entry.
"So they've got to be able to walk the talk.
"The judges work in teams or pairs and once they've chosen the winner of the category they're judging they then sit down and they work through the idea of whether their business that they've chosen is suitable to be business of the year.
"It's then up to the judge basically to sell that business."
Mr House said this year's awards attracted about 140 entries for the various categories.
"What set the winner (Kosmac and Clemens Optometrists) apart from the rest is their willingness to take one step further than their competitors and the businesses around them," he said.
"They worked beyond reasonable expectations.
"They've also made major investments into technology and so forth and offer a lot of service that other optometrists don't offer.
"And they invest heavily in training of their staff."
The awards are designed to encourage businesses and individuals to strive for excellence and promote businesses through the media.
All the winners...
Business of the year: Kosmac and Clemens Optometrists.
Retail category: Connections BMX
Service Professional category: Kosmac and Clemens Optometrists.
Trade and other services category: BG's Pools and Spas.
Manufacturing and industrial category: Jason Wescott Builders.
Hospitality/tourism category: Masons of Bendigo.
Local outlet, franchise or buying group category: Viatek Central Victoria.
Small business (1-10 employees) category: I do I do Creations Magazine.
New business (less than three years) category: Sim'R.
Employee of the year category: Abhishek Awawsthi (La Trobe University).
Trainee/apprentice of the year: Alithea Thompson.
Environmental category: Viatek Central Victoria.
They worked beyond reasonable expectations ... They invest heavily in their staff
- - Gerard House