Business Excellence Awards
We are now accepting applications for the 2021 City of Melton Business Excellence Awards, proudly presented by Venture Melton.
The annual Business of the Year Award will be decided by the judging panel from the individual category award winners. This is the chance to reward businesses whose contributions, achievements or outstanding services deserve recognition.
You can apply in the following categories:
- Business Excellence Award for Innovation
- Business Excellence Award for Adaptability
- Business Excellence Award for Creativity
- Business Excellence Award for Accessibility and Inclusion
- Business Excellence Award for Sustainability Leadership
- Business Excellence Conscientious Employer Award
Business Award Criteria
Business Excellence Award for Innovation
Open to businesses across all sectors that have created and implemented a new process, product or service which has made the complex far simpler, the expensive more affordable or the seemingly impossible, possible.
Business Excellence Award for Adaptability
Open to businesses across all sectors that have been able to adapt quickly to market changes. This award recognises rapid and flexible responses to customer demands, and the capacity to be agile, leading change in a productive and cost-effective way without compromising quality.
Business Excellence Award for Creativity
Open to all businesses across all sectors, the Award for Creativity isn't restricted to artistic fields. This award recognises businesses that have used new and original ideas to create solutions, pushing the boundaries in ways that inspire and challenge.
Business Excellence Award for Accessibility and Inclusion
Open to businesses across all sectors, this award recognises work to achieve a more inclusive environment for staff and customers, taking into account factors such as age, gender, cultural background and the needs of people with disabilities. Businesses nominated for this award have taken action to reduce barriers, enhance participation and ensure information, services and facilities are accessible to the broad spectrum of people who make up our community.
Business Excellence Award for Sustainability Leadership
Open to businesses across all sectors. Leaders in Sustainability actively identify ways to minimise the environmental footprint of the operation of their business, their supply chains and waste production. These businesses pursue opportunities to close the loop on raw materials they may consume. Sustainable practice examples include the creation of green space, crop rotation, environmentally sustainable design and construction, water efficient fixtures, renewable clean energy, product stewardship initiatives and water treatment and reuse.
Business Excellence Conscientious Employer Award
Open to businesses across all sectors, the Conscientious Employer Award recognises workplaces that strive to maximise the full potential of their workforce. Businesses nominated for this award have established policies and practices which prioritise staff development, workplace adaptability and flexibility, and result in high levels of employee recruitment, engagement and retention. It also recognises employers who provide apprenticeship and job placement opportunities.
Non Nomination Awards Categories
The following awards will also be awarded at the Awards Gala Dinner. There is no nomination process for these awards. They are chosen from category finalists and winners by the independent judging panel.
Hall of Fame Award
This award elevates former business of the year and multiple category winners as judged to have achieved excellence over a sustained period.
Mayoral Achievement Award
The Mayoral Award is judged across all Melton Business Excellence Awards finalists, and recognises outstanding performance in the judging criteria for their nominated category.
Business of the Year Award
Open to businesses across all sectors that demonstrate high delivery and achievement in three or more of the above award categories.
Selection process
- Application
Online applications are open from Thursday 8 April. The application consists of a series of questions that allows the business to present and explain its operations. Applications close Wednesday 30 June.
- Judging
Independent and experienced business professionals review all applications within a category. The Judges will rank the applications based on the level of detail and quality of information contained within the application and determine a maximum of three category finalists.
- Site-Inspection/interview
The judges will contact finalists and schedule a meeting at the finalist’s premises to interview a representative of that organisation and undertake a brief tour of the operations to validate the responses provided in the application.
- Finalist Event
After the site visits, Category Finalists will be invited to the Finalist event on Thursday 9 September whereby they will be recognised for their achievements.
- Category winner declared
The judges will choose the winner for each category. All winners are announced at the annual Gala Dinner to be held on 15 October.
- Business of the year winner declared
The judging panel will determine an overall winner for the Business of the Year Award based on its assessment of the application and site visit of every finalist. The judge’s decisions on category winners and business of the year winner are announced at the annual Gala Dinner to be held on 15 October.
- Feedback
All businesses who have made submissions will receive formal feedback from the judges which is considered a valuable exercise to identify potential business improvements. All businesses who have made submissions will also receive personal contact from Council’s Economic Development team with an opportunity to participate in business support programs such as mentoring, training and the Venture Melton Business Network.