The City of Whittlesea business awards promotes local business entrepreneurs, innovators and operators and highlights business achievements across key industry sectors. It is an opportunity for businesses of all types and sizes to be recognised for their efforts, commitment and successes.
The awards are open exclusively for our business network members.
![2024 business awards](/files/assets/public/v/1/images/business/support-for-businesses/2024-business-awards.png?w=800&h=267)
Our 2024 awards night was held on 23 May at Mantra Epping. Hosted by MC Phil Ore, the sold-out event saw 27 finalists for awards across six diverse categories and the overall title of 2024 Business of the Year.
Customer service
Love your customers? Tell us how your business has delivered customer service excellence over the past year. Customers are vital for any successful business, and we know you all have different ways of ensuring your customers keep coming back. Tell us how you excel in customer service. The judging panel will assess your entry based on:
- how you engage with your customers
- systems and procedures to receive and record customer feedback and satisfaction, such as an external feedback provider or in-house
- your customer service policy or charter
- your customer ratings through feedback i.e. Trip Advisor, Trustpilot, Net Promoter Score and in-house data collection tools
- customer testimonials.
Innovation and enterprise
Businesses must evolve to stay relevant in the market. Has your business launched a new product or service, entered a new market, or introduced a new way of working in the past year? Tell us how you have demonstrated innovation and enterprise and why your business should win this award. The judging panel will assess your entry based on:
- examples of new products you have launched
- examples of new services you have introduced
- examples of new ways of working you have adopted
- how these new products or services improve your business performance
- how these new products or services enhance the customer experience
- how the business arrived at the design and implementation of the product, service, or way of working.
Sustainability and environment
Has your business made improvements in the past year to ensure it can achieve a sustainable future? Tell us how your business reduces the impact on the environment within its operations and why it should win this award. The judging panel will assess your entry based on:
- strategies and activities clearly showing your business has developed and embraced becoming sustainable
- how your business includes the circular economy within its operation
- examples of day-to-day methods that reduce the impact on the environment
- plans that pave the way for further sustainable policies
- examples of how your business has implemented operational changes to include environmentally friendly practices
- how initiatives have created new roles within your business that are directly connected to sustainability and the circular economy.
Community contribution
Local communities are strengthened by an active business community and we want to award a business that has made a positive impact on the local community this year. How does your business contribute to the local community? The judging panel will assess your entry based on:
- the work your business has done with the community and how that has benefited the municipality
- percentage of local City of Whittlesea residents within your workforce
- how your business supports or works in partnership with other businesses within the City of Whittlesea.
Workplace diversity
The City of Whittlesea is a diverse area that is home to people from many ages, abilities, backgrounds, genders and beliefs. How does your business represent, embrace or foster such a diverse community? Tell us how your business exemplifies workplace diversity. The judging panel will assess your entry based on:
- a breakdown of your workforce's genders, abilities, nationalities, education, sexual orientation and background
- initiatives that make your workplace attractive to people from CALD and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- your workforce training programs, with examples of activities you have carried out with training and placement providers to engage different types of jobseekers
- how you work with local education providers to support your workforce through training and development
- your workplace diversity policy and how this is implemented in your day-to-day operations.
Home-based business
The home-based business award is open to any registered business with up to three employees and whose primary place of work is in the business owner’s home. This award recognises individuals and businesses that have not only embraced the unique challenges of operating from home but have also excelled in various aspects of a business. This includes innovation, community contribution, customer service, sustainability and diversity. Drawing on the main award categories tell us why your business should win this award. The judging panel will assess your entry based on:
- customer service initiatives that ensure customers are at the centre of all business engagements
- innovation and enterprise where new products, services or ways of working have impacted customer service delivery and/or business performance
- sustainability and environment where you have initiatives in place demonstrating your commitment to a sustainable environment
- community contribution showing the work your business has done with the community and how that has benefited the residents of the City of Whittlesea
- diversity where your home-based business has practices that represent, embrace or foster the diversity of the City of Whittlesea community.
Download our terms and condition of entry(PDF, 351KB)
In it's first year, the City of Whittlesea business awards was a huge success. Held on 18 May 2023, at Mantra Epping, the evening was attended by 180 guests with 30 businesses shortlisted across six categories. It was a great opportunity to recognise the importance of our local business community and reward those businesses who show excellence in their field.
The inaugural Business of the Year Award went to Repurpose It.
![From left to right - George Hatzimanolis MD, Erin Ford, Aristos Karavias GM, Tanya Hall and John McCluskey from Repurpose It. Five staff from Reurpose It hold their award trophies and certificates.](/files/assets/public/v/2/images/business/support-for-businesses/business-awards-2023-winner-repurposeit.gif?w=500&h=333)
From left to right - George Hatzimanolis MD, Erin Ford, Aristos Karavias GM,Tanya Hall and John McCluskey from Repurpose It.
Watch the 2023 awards night video for highlights from this special event.
See more Business Award 2023 action in the photo gallery