South East Business Awards Categories for 2022

The 2022 South East Business Awards Program will be bigger and better, with more categories and awards than ever before! 

Not sure which category to nominate your business for? Listed below is each category for the 2022 South East Business Awards, and their definitions. This may help you decide which award category is most suitable for you and your business.

Business Innovation Award      
This award acknowledges businesses who continue to develop and research to change their primary product/industry or service. The award recognises a business that has made significant contributions to their industry and/or community or implemented innovative solutions for new and existing business needs through the introduction or improvement of an idea, method, technology, process or application.

Environmental and Sustainability Award
The Environmental and Sustainability Award recognises a business that has demonstrated their commitment to sustainable business practices and is working to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment. 

Community Impact Award 
This award recognizes a registered ACNC organisation, ADE or Social Enterprise which has made an outstanding contribution to the social, cultural or economic well-being of their community through a specific initiative. The initiative can include but not limited to projects, programs, ventures and undertakings. The organisation must be registered with ACNA and exhibit stability, maintaining a good relationship with its members, staff and volunteers, and demonstrate best business practices.

Business Citizen Award 
Businesses who consider the social and ethical effects of its activities on their staff and the community around them. This includes businesses who actively develop and train their staff beyond the field of their employment, address the needs of a diverse community, including older people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, women, young people, and people with disability. 

Employer Engagement Award 

The Employer Engagement Award recognises Trainees and Apprentices with the potential to become the next generation of leaders through the support of their workplace. Finalists and award-winning students will gain recognition and exposure to their industry with an opportunity for further networking. Their workplace will also gain recognition for their training and support of producing work-ready graduates.  Employers that can show a commitment to upskilling, training and provide clear pathways for their employees are encouraged to apply.  Nominations can also be made by students/teachers in collaboration with their workplace.

Micro Business Award 
The Micro Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience. Businesses with 4 employees or less, an annual turnover of less than $1 million classified as a micro business. To be eligible for this award the business must still be operational and have completed two or more fiscal years.

Leisure, Tourism & Wellbeing Award 
This award celebrates those businesses which provide services and products to our local communities and those visiting their region in the hospitality/tourism or leisure market. These businesses are at the heart of our local visitor and tourism economy - offering products, leisure services and/or hospitality services. The applicant should highlight the business offerings and experiences and how these are promoted to markets locally, nationally or internationally. 

Retail/Wholesale Business Award
The Retail/Wholesale Award acknowledges businesses within any industry that remain updated on this evolving industry sector as customer demands and expectations and technology are continually changing. Applicants should highlight they truly understand their customers and demonstrate how they provide seamless customer experiences, across all channels. To be eligible, applicants must be in either the retail or wholesale sectors. 

Professional Services Award 
The Professional Services Award acknowledges and celebrates businesses meeting the increasing demand for such products and services.  Applicants should demonstrate their passion for exceeding customer expectations and service excellence within the business and overall team as well as demonstrate how they stay abreast of innovation within their profession and apply this learning to their business and customers. This category recognises professional services such as health care, legal, accounting, digital, IT etc.

Advanced Manufacturing Award 
The Advanced Manufacturing Award recognizes businesses who lead and shape the future in their industry sector. Applicants should demonstrate achievements across a wide variety of areas including the readiness of new technologies in sustainability, operational excellence, innovation and supply chain management. Manufacturing is defined by those who use raw materials, parts and components to assemble finished goods and sell their products.

Building and Construction Award
The Building and Construction Award recognises businesses who demonstrate exceptional craftmanship, show a commitment to building excellence including the fields of sustainability, operational excellence, innovation and environment. Construction is defined as building, maintaining and repairing structures.

The winners of each category will be eligible for the overall Greater Dandenong Chamber Business Award.

If you have a great business story, and are located in the Greater Dandenong area, consider nominating yourself for an award. Alternatively, if you know of an outstanding business in the area, show your support for local business excellence by nominating a business you know and respect. 

You can nominate your business for the 2022 South East Business Awards by filling out the form here >