Recognising businesses showing innovation and resilience | The Advertiser – Cessnock | Cessnock, NSW

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

Hunter Valley Training Company and Matt Dillow from The Deck Café, Lovedale are both in the running for an award for ‘going the extra mile’ during the coronavirus pandemic. More than 60 businesses will vie for honours in this year’s prestigious Hunter Business Awards, which will be presented at a unique COVID Safe gala ceremony for 300 guests at the Civic Theatre on Friday, November 20. Fifty-seven finalists have been named across 17 categories from more than 120 entries received, with additional finalists to be added following the Singleton Business Excellence Awards on Friday, November 6. “We are delighted to be able to host the Hunter Business Awards in a year that has been enormously challenging for many in our business community,” Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said. “Our region’s business owners and operators and their staff have worked so hard to get through 2020 – and now it is time to celebrate. We want to make the 2020 Hunter Business Awards one to remember.” This year, in a new ‘people’s choice’ category, the community will be invited to vote for the region’s COVID Business Hero, an award recognising businesses that have gone the extra mile in their response to the pandemic by innovating, demonstrating resilience or showing goodwill. Finalists for the COVID Business Hero Award are: Hunter Valley Training Company; Jodi O’Connor from Made By Ronnoco; Matt Dillow from The Deck Café, Lovedale; Newcastle Permanent Building Society Charitable Foundation; and, Out of the Square. People can cast their vote for the COVID Business Hero via social media or through the Hunter Business Chamber website over the next week. Voting will remain open until 5pm on Friday, November 6. “There were so many inspiring stories among the COVID Business Hero Award entries, which came from across the business spectrum, from sole traders to large corporations,” Mr Hawes said. “The entries really showed up the extra effort businesses have made to overcome adversity during the pandemic period and continue to support their employees and customers, other businesses and their communities. “Our judges wanted to give them all an award!” The Hunter Business Chamber is proud to partner with the University of Newcastle to present the Hunter Business Awards. “We are very grateful to the University of Newcastle and all of our category sponsors for their continued, unflinching support of the business community in this most difficult of years,” Mr Hawes said. Winners of the Hunter Business Awards will be announced in the following categories: Vote for the Hunter’s COVID Business Hero here: https://poll.app.do/hunter-business-awards-covid-business-hero Do you know you can subscribe to get full access to all Maitland Mercury stories? Subscribing supports us in our local news coverage. To subscribe, click here.

Hunter Business Chamber President Hennie du Plooy.

Hunter Valley Training Company and Matt Dillow from The Deck Café, Lovedale are both in the running for an award for ‘going the extra mile’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 60 businesses will vie for honours in this year’s prestigious Hunter Business Awards, which will be presented at a unique COVID Safe gala ceremony for 300 guests at the Civic Theatre on Friday, November 20.

Fifty-seven finalists have been named across 17 categories from more than 120 entries received, with additional finalists to be added following the Singleton Business Excellence Awards on Friday, November 6.

“We are delighted to be able to host the Hunter Business Awards in a year that has been enormously challenging for many in our business community,” Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said.

“Our region’s business owners and operators and their staff have worked so hard to get through 2020 – and now it is time to celebrate. We want to make the 2020 Hunter Business Awards one to remember.”

This year, in a new ‘people’s choice’ category, the community will be invited to vote for the region’s COVID Business Hero, an award recognising businesses that have gone the extra mile in their response to the pandemic by innovating, demonstrating resilience or showing goodwill.

Finalists for the COVID Business Hero Award are: Hunter Valley Training Company; Jodi O’Connor from Made By Ronnoco; Matt Dillow from The Deck Café, Lovedale; Newcastle Permanent Building Society Charitable Foundation; and, Out of the Square.

People can cast their vote for the COVID Business Hero via social media or through the Hunter Business Chamber website over the next week.

Voting will remain open until 5pm on Friday, November 6.

“There were so many inspiring stories among the COVID Business Hero Award entries, which came from across the business spectrum, from sole traders to large corporations,” Mr Hawes said.

“The entries really showed up the extra effort businesses have made to overcome adversity during the pandemic period and continue to support their employees and customers, other businesses and their communities.

“Our judges wanted to give them all an award!”

The Hunter Business Chamber is proud to partner with the University of Newcastle to present the Hunter Business Awards.

“We are very grateful to the University of Newcastle and all of our category sponsors for their continued, unflinching support of the business community in this most difficult of years,” Mr Hawes said.

Winners of the Hunter Business Awards will be announced in the following categories:

Kristen Keegan Young Business Leader (18 – 30 years) sponsored by Quarry Mining
Outstanding Young Entrepreneur (18-30 years) sponsored by AGL
Business Leader of the Year (31+ years) sponsored by CPA Australia
Contribution to the Region sponsored by Port Authority of NSW
Excellence in Micro Business ( 5 employees) sponsored by Glencore
Excellence in Small Business (5-20 employees) sponsored by Newcastle Herald
Excellence in Business (21+ employees) sponsored by NSW Minerals Council
Excellence in Social Enterprise presented by Hunter Business Chamber
Start Up Superstar presented by Hunter Business Chamber
Excellence in Innovation and Adaptability presented by Hunter Business Chamber
Excellence in Sustainability sponsored by Umwelt
Excellence in Import or Export sponsored by Port of Newcastle
Excellence in Workplace Culture, Diversity and Inclusion sponsored by Castle Personnel
Local Chamber of Commerce presented by Business NSW
COVID Business Hero (popular vote) sponsored by University of Newcastle
President’s Award sponsored by Newcastle Permanent
Love Water Love Business Award, sponsored by Hunter Water

Vote for the Hunter’s COVID Business Hero here: https://poll.app.do/hunter-business-awards-covid-business-hero

Do you know you can subscribe to get full access to all Maitland Mercury stories? Subscribing supports us in our local news coverage. To subscribe, click .