The finalists for the 2024 Bega Valley Business Awards have been announced and with over 1600 nominations, across the 18 categories, it’s an increase of 75% on last years nominations.
19 finalists are from Bega, 11 from Pambula, 7 from Eden and Merimbula, 5 from Cobargo, 4 from Tathra as well as finalists from Bemboka, Bermagui and even Buckajo.
Although the number of nominations was only one factor in the judging process, categories, like ‘hospitality’, received 360 nominations for 60 different businesses with ‘retail’ receiving 186 nominations for 60 businesses.
Bega Valley Business Forum President, Nigel Ayling (pictured above with the 2EC/Power FM team who won the Employer of Choice Award in 2023), said the forum had been really impressed with the response this year.
“It was great to see so many nominations and a lot of businesses being nominated for the first time,” Mr Ayling said.
“This year we introduced some refined criteria for the judging including giving extra weight to some smaller locations and capping the impact of the number of nominations,” he said.
“It is definitely not a popularity contest where the business with the most nominations wins. It was hard work narrowing some categories down to just 3 finalists, so the ones that have made it this far, really deserve to be there.”
FINALISTS
Excellence in Innovation and Sustainability
Sapphire Coast Buslines
Grow The Future
Tarthra Eco Camp
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
Cheryl’s personal Services
Tulgeen Disability Services
Workability
Outstanding Community Organisation
Eden Community Access Centre
Sapphire Community Pantry
Sapphire Life Opportunities
Excellence in Construction, Trades and Services
Ardy’s Automotive Services
Eastman Electrical
Pambula Tiles and Bathware
Excellence in Retail
Darcie Nicol Floral Design
Independent Living Specialists
Swannies Clothing Co
Excellence in Health, Beauty and Wellness
In 2 Skin Cosmetics
Lisa Jane Skin and Beauty
Tathra Beach Fitness and Personal Training
Excellence in Professional Services
CBA Merimbula
Coastal Cleanliness
WMD Law
Excellence in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Bega Motorcycles
Buckajo Flowers
Southern Farm Supplies
Excellence in Hospitality
Cobargo Hotel
Toast Cafe Pambula
Wild Orchid
Outstanding Visitor Experience (Tourism)
Great Southern Trike Tours
Tathra Beach Eco Camp
Yandama On Country
Employer of Choice
Bendigo Bank – Pambula
Florabel
Eastman Electrical
Excellence in Micro Business
Eastwood’s of Bermagui
Food Maters Catering
Tomi’s Bobcat and Excavation
Excellence in Small Business
Envision Education
Sapphire Coast Kitchens
Sapphire Conveyancing
Excellence in Large Business
IRT Home Services
Support Services 2 You
Tulgeen Disability Services
Outstanding Male Employee
Scott Schuck – Toast Pambula
Luke Keft – Coles Bega
Patrick Elliott – Cobargo Hotel
Outstanding Female Employee
Geneviev Mussell – Power FM
Morgan Cruickshank – Pambula Tiles
Tayla Wilson – Tulgeen Disability Services
Outstanding Business Leader
Ben Bayliss – Longstocking Brewery
Danielle Geekie – Sapphire Conveyancing
Sheri McEvoy – Florabel
Outstanding Young Business Leader/Employee
Lillian Britton – Cobargo Hotel
Kayne Thomas Woods – Seahorse Inn
Blake Mylan – Waterfront Restaurant
Voting is now open to the public to vote for their favourite finalists. Voting is limited to 1 vote per person, however you can vote for all of the categories, or just the ones you want. The votes will be added to the score along with other judging criteria to come up with the winners.
Click here to vote.
Images: ARN Bega Bay
