2018 Bendigo Business Excellence Awards: Category finalists announced

Saari Frochot-Ryan, of Z-Fit Studios; Kate Mannix, of AFS and Associates Chartered Accountants; and Clare Fountain, of Sorted4Life; have been named as finalists in the Regional Women in Business Award – one of two new categories at this year’s event.

Z-Fit Studios is up for further recognition as one of two finalists in the inaugural Excellence in Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Award, alongside The Bendigo Cleaning Company.

RELATED: Bendigo Business Excellence Awards to grow in 2018

Be.Bendigo today announced a field of more than 30 finalists for this year’s awards.

Judges have completed assessments for entrants in 15 categories.

Be.Bendigo engagement manager Jayson Tayeh said there were more than 160 applications.

He said competition for this year’s awards was extremely close, with only one point separating third, fourth and fifth places in some instances.

“The best thing about this great field of finalists is how diverse the businesses are,” Mr Tayeh said.

“These are a true representation of the breadth of businesses in Greater Bendigo and we congratulate everyone who has made it through.”

A panel of 15 judges will determine which of the finalists will hear their names called during the awards gala at the All Seasons Resort Hotel in Bendigo on June 1.

On-site judging will take place during the first week of May.

Mr Tayeh said the one-on-one meetings were opportunities for the finalists to present their businesses to the judges.

A field of 20 finalists has already been announced for the People’s Choice Award, voting for which opened last month.

RELATED: Who will win your vote in the 2018 People’s Choice award

More than 700 people attended last year’s Bendigo Business Excellence Awards in 2017.

Dancers from Z-Fit Studios – one of the finalists in this year’s awards – set a celebratory tone for the evening with their opening performance last year. 

“This year’s entertainment will be sourced locally and with a two-course meal plus drink on arrival, guests will be able to network all evening – a great opportunity to celebrate as a whole business community,” Mr Tayeh said.

He said the engagement the awards had received from the Greater Bendigo community thus far was on par with the 2017 program, and expected the turnout to this year’s event to be similarly strong.

“The Greater Bendigo business community has been supportive of the business awards for 25 years now and we truly thank those who ran it successfully before us,” Mr Tayeh said.

The Rotary Club of Bendigo and Powercor were the event’s previous hosts.

Visit the Be.Bendigo website for gala event bookings or to vote in this year’s People’s Choice Award.

The Bendigo Advertiser is the major sponsor of the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards.

Excellence as a Not-for-profit

Excellence as an Emerging Business (5 years or less)

Excellence as an Employee, Apprentice or Trainee

Excellence in a Service Industry

Excellence in Digital Customer Engagement

Excellence in Health

Excellence in Hospitality

Excellence in Manufacturing

Excellence in Professional Services

Excellence in Retail

Excellence in Sustainability

Excellence in Tourism

Excellence in Trade

Excellence in Workplace Diversity and Inclusion

Regional Women in Business Award