2015 Sunny s Sunny s Business Awards

Transcription

1 2015 Sunny s Sunny s Business Awards Categories Terms and Conditions Celebrating and recognising business excellence on the Coffs Coast. Showcasing the success of our members. Strengthening business in NSW. Website : info@sunnysbusinessawards.com.au

2 Objectives of the Sunny s Sunny s Business Awards program There are many successful, inspirational businesses and business leaders in Coffs Harbour. In our lifestyle region, business is at the forefront of innovation and there are many businesses that are well known as market leaders locally and internationally. The Sunny's Business Awards for 2015 is the perfect vehicle to celebrate the success of Coffs Harbour businesses. A healthy business has excellent operational processes, maintains accurate financial information, builds strong relationships with employees, clients and suppliers and has well developed sales and marketing strategies. Businesses that have won award categories or the Business of the Year award have used their success as a platform for bigger and brighter things. The entry process is straight forward. Most successful businesses have a business plan and much of this detail can be used for your entry. Once again, a big "thank you" to our sponsors and supporters. Your efforts add to the prestige and reputation of the awards. AIM OF THE AWARDS The Sunny's Business Awards aim to: Encourage and celebrate creativity, professionalism and innovation Provide a benchmark for best practice within the business Promote business planning Encourage the raising of standards Publicly recognise and reward excellence Reinforce the value of, and consumer confidence in business Promote an annual platform for the celebration of business, and offer networking opportunities for business, supporters and sponsors alike BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING It is an opportunity to focus on your business in a structured way and identify core strengths and competitive advantages as well as areas that may benefit from more focus in the future Participation in the awards provides network opportunities with other business leaders and professionals Award winners receive public recognition of their business excellence The awards process provides a platform on which to acknowledge the contribution made by employees to the success of your organisation Award participation provides another dimension for showcasing your services and products to a wider audience In winning, you receive a trophy that can be on display in your business

3 Terms and Conditions: 1. HOW TO ENTER 1.1. To enter the Sunny s Business Awards all applicants must read and understand the terms and conditions and complete the on-line entry form for your chosen category All entrants or nominations must operate in the Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo, Bellingen, or Urunga Local Government area To enter you must be web-enabled and register to enter the awards on the Sunny s Awards Website -. You will use your account and set your own password to Log into the Entry section to Upload your completed Entry Forms All entries for consideration must be lodged online and include the required information By lodging your submission, you agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions of entry Your entry must be submitted by 5pm Australian Eastern Standard time on the 25 September Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to extend or vary the entry period if required, before or after the award entry period commences Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to declare any entry ineligible, if during the term of the award process your entry form is incomplete or deficient, false or misleading in any way All entrants or nominations must be registered with the ATO as a business and hold a current ABN number Questions to be answered in order as per the entry form/s Graphics / images are only permitted on the cover page. Be concise with your answers remember more words do not necessarily make a better entry All entries must submit 4 high resolution (large file size) landscape images in JPEG format. Images will be used in the multimedia presentation on the awards night For those entering into more than one category a separate entry is required for each category. 2. OPENING DATES 2.1. Nominations open on 1 August 2015

4 3. CLOSING DATE 3.1. Nominations close 5 pm on Friday 25 September CONFIDENTIALITY 4.1. All information provided in the entry form will be used for the purpose of judging only and will be treated as commercial-in-confidence by Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce 4.2. Your privacy is protected and all entries are regarded as CONFIDENTIAL and all individuals involved in the judging process are required to complete a Confidentiality Agreement If you are selected as a finalist, the information provided in the entry will be used for the purpose of promoting the Awards and your business. 5. JUDGING PANEL 5.1. All entries are judged by a panel of subject matter experts, selected from business and community leaders from within the local region. The judging panel reserves the right to place your entry into a category it feels most appropriate. The judging panel reserves the right to create or delete categories based on the entries received The judges decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into. 6. AWARDS 6.1. The Awards comprise of the following Nineteen (19) categories: Excellence in Innovation* Excellence in Sustainability* Excellence in Small Business (businesses employing 20 or less full-time employees)* Excellence in Business Ethics* Employer of Choice* Young Business Executive (Age 18-35)* Young Entrepreneur (Age 18-35)* Business Leaders Award (Age 36+)*

5 Excellence in Export* Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety Excellence in Business (for businesses employing more than 20 full-time employees) New Business Award Retail Award Community Services Award Professional Services Award Hospitality/Leisure and Entertainment Award Marketing and Advertising Award Achieve Anything Award Training Award Note: *These categories are aligned with the NSW Business Chamber Regional Awards. If you win in these categories you are eligible to go on to compete in the NSW Business Chamber Regional Awards if you are a NSW Business Chamber Member or a member of the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce and have nominated to be an alliance member. For further information contact Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce.

6 NSW Business Award Program Terms and Conditions Eligibility *These categories are aligned with the NSW Business Chamber Regional Awards. If you win in these categories you are eligible to go on to compete in the NSW Business Chamber Regional Awards if you are a NSW Business Chamber Member or a member of the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce and have nominated to be an alliance member. For further information contact Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce. NSW Business Chamber members Entry to the NSW Business Chamber Regional Business Awards is open to: All financial members of NSW Business Chamber (including Australian Business Defence Industry Unit members and the Tourism Industry Division members). For direct entry into a Regional awards, the business or individual will only be able to enter into one NSW Business Regional Awards Program across the state. This will be identified by the ABN. Local Chamber of Commerce (LCC) members: - Where a Local Chamber Awards program exists and that LCC partner aligns all or some of their categories and criteria with the NSW Business Chamber Awards program LCC members cannot enter directly into the NSW Business Chamber Awards for those aligned categories at a regional level. - Where a Local Chamber Awards program does not exist, LCC members can enter directly into the NSW Business Chamber Awards at a regional level. - A business/individual is eligible to enter into multiple local chamber awards within a region. You will be required to enter a new username per entry submission. Local Chamber Award winners are eligible to progress to the NSW Business Chamber Regional Awards program as a Regional finalist subject to: - Complying with the NSW Business Chambers Business Award program, Terms and Conditions. - The Local Chamber category winner s entry being submitted via the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards online entry system for the purposes of judging.

7 Minimum operating period: To enter in the NSW Business Awards the business must have been operating continuously for minimum of two years at the time of entry Sunny s Business Award categories There are 10 award categories three recognising individual excellence and achievement, and seven recognising business excellence. Young Business Executive The Young Business Executive award recognises an inspirational young professional aged between years who has built a successful career with an organisation. Questions Are you entering on behalf of another individual (YES/NO)? If NO proceed to question 1. If YES do you have their permission to enter on their behalf (tick box). 1. Entrants name. 2. Entrant's date of birth. 3. Entrant's current job title. 4. Name of organisation the entrant works for. 5. Provide a current profile including current job role and scope of responsibilities Word count: Max What is your employment background? Word count: Max Provide an overview of your 5 year goals/milestones and how you are working towards these. Word count: Max Detail your measurable career achievements. Word count: Max Describe the key challenges you have faced as a young business professional and how you deal with these challenges. Word count: Max What do you believe makes you a good leader? Word count: Max 400 Additional T&C s In addition to the general T&C s the following apply to this category:- - If you are applying on behalf of someone else you must have their permission to enter this award category. - Entrant must be employed by the organisation for a period of 2 years at the time of entry submission.

8 Young Entrepreneur The Young Entrepreneur award recognises an inspirational young person aged between years who, through their own commitment and passion, has built and operates a successful business. This award recognises young business leaders who demonstrate outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic direction and innovative ideas whilst providing inspiration to a new generation of upcoming young business people. Questions Are you entering on behalf of another individual (YES/NO)? If NO proceed to question 1. If YES do you have their permission to enter on their behalf? (tick box) 1. Entrant s name. 2. Entrant's date of birth. 3. Name of organisation. 4. Please detail the measurable achievements in your business. Word count: Maximum Provide an overview of your 5 year goals/milestones for your business and how you are working towards these. Word count: Maximum Describe the key challenges you have faced as a young entrepreneur and how you deal with these challenges. Word count: Maximum How do you demonstrate inspiration to other young entrepreneurial people? Word count: Maximum Why do you believe you should win this award? Word count: Maximum 300 Additional T&C s In addition to the general T&C s the following apply to this category:- - If you are applying on behalf of someone else you must have their permission to enter this award category. - Entrants must have ownership and/or have been operating their business for a minimum of 2 years at the time of entry submission.

9 Business Leader The Business Leader award recognises the positive contribution made to business by business people and professionals. The award recognises those who demonstrate outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas, whilst providing inspiration to a new generation of upcoming business leaders. Question Are you entering on behalf of another individual (YES/NO)? If NO proceed to question 1. If YES do you have their permission to enter on their behalf? (tick box) 1. Name of entrant. 2. Entrant's date of birth. 3. Entrant's current job title. 4. Name of organisation. 5. Provide a current profile of yourself including your title, current business role, scope of responsibilities. Word count: Maximum Why do you believe you should be considered as a business leader? Word count: Maximum Provide an overview of your 5 year goals /milestones. Word count: Maximum Detail your achievements in business in the previous 5 years. Word count: Maximum Describe the key challenges you have faced as a business leader in the past 5 years and how you overcame them. Word count: Maximum Demonstrate how you have helped the community (and or the business community) overcome social or environmental problems. Word count: Maximum 400 Additional T&Cs In addition to the general T&C s the following apply to this category:- - If you are applying on behalf of someone else you must have their permission to enter this award category.

10 Excellence in Business Ethics Recognises an outstanding business that has been able to achieve business success while acting in an ethically responsible way. Questions 1. Explain how your business demonstrates excellence in business ethics? Please provide at least 3 specific examples. Word count: Maximum How do ethical practices contribute to your business success? Please provide evidence. Word count: Maximum Detail measurable evidence of how you contribute to your local community. Word count: Maximum Describe how your business interacts with your employees to promote excellence in business ethics with your suppliers and customers. Please provide at least 3 specific examples. Word count: Maximum 400 Excellence in Innovation Recognises businesses that have made significant contributions to their industry through the introduction or improvement of an idea, method, technology, process or application. Questions 1. Is this a new innovation or an innovative approach to an existing practice or problem? Please explain. Word count: Maximum Explain how your business monitors and reacts to changes in the market including how your business acquires an understanding of emerging customer needs and market developments. Word count: Maximum Provide evidence of how your business is innovative, with specific examples over the previous 24 months including cost effectiveness, integration and risk minimization. Word count: Maximum Provide details of the commercialisation, adoption or take up of the innovation and its sustainability over time. Word count: Maximum Provide measurable evidence of how innovative activity in your business in the previous months has helped grow or improve your business. Word count: Maximum Demonstrate the extent to which your business innovation has or is likely to have a positive impact beyond your business (i.e. to your industry, to the community). Word count: Maximum How are these improvements or impacts to the business measured? Word Count: Maximum 400

11 Excellence in Sustainability* The Excellence in Sustainability award recognises businesses that are working to reduce the impact of their operations on the environment and/or provide products and services that have positive environmental outcomes. Questions 1. Describe your business environmental sustainability goals. Please note that these must be quantifiable targets. Word count: Maximum Describe the initiatives/actions your organisation has undertaken to achieve its sustainability objectives in the previous months. Word Count: Maximum Describe your sustainability achievements over the last 12 months. Word count: Maximum Describe how you involve staff in your environmental initiatives. Word count: Provide measurable evidence of how the sustainability objectives your business has achieved have contributed to the business, it s customers, staff and suppliers such as financial outcomes, staff engagement, marketing benefits, supplier/customer loyalty. Word count: 500 Additional T&C s applicable to this category Where sustainability is your core business, you must enter this category based on sustainable initiatives and projects within your business, not related to your core offering. Excellence in Small Business (for businesses employing less than 20 employees*) The Excellence in Small Business award recognises a business (employing less than 20 employees*) that has attained significant growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies and processes implemented to achieve sustainable growth in the previous 24 months. *This includes all employees on payroll in Australia such as contractors, casuals and labour hire staff. Questions 1. Explain your business growth in the previous 24 months. Word count: Maximum Explain the strategies and plans to achieve your business growth over the previous 24 months. Word count: How did you implement these strategies? Word count: Maximum Detail the measurable results you achieved both financial and non-financial and how these demonstrate excellence. Word count: Maximum 500

12 Excellence in Business (for businesses employing 20 or more employees*) The Excellence in Business award recognises a business that has attained significant growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies and processes implemented to achieve sustainable growth over the previous 24 months. *This includes all employees on payroll in Australia such as contractors, casual and labour hire staff. Questions 1. Explain your business growth in the previous 24 months. Word count: Maximum Explain the strategies and plans to achieve your business growth over the previous 24 months. Word count: Maximum How did you implement these strategies? Word count: Maximum 400 Detail the measurable results you achieved, both financial and non-financial, and how these demonstrate excellence. Word count: Maximum 500 Employer of Choice The Employer of Choice award recognises organisations that put in place strategies and initiatives to create stimulating and supportive workplace environments for their employees. These strategies or initiatives must have a positive impact on both employees and the organisation as a whole. Questions 1. Number of full time employees includes all employees on payroll in Australia.(This is for context only and will not be scored). 2. Explain any specific HR and WHS programs and policies you have undertaken in the previous 24 months. Word count: Maximum Why did your business embark on this project/s and/or initiatives? Word count: Maximum What measurable results have been achieved and how have they positively contributed to workplace productivity and employee satisfaction? (i.e. reduction in voluntary staff turnover, absenteeism, training and development hours, employee satisfaction measures). Word count: Maximum Identify and describe the benefits you offer as an Employer of Choice? Word Count Maximum 400

13 Excellence in Export The Excellence in Export recognises leading examples of businesses that are forging a strong reputation for Australian products and services in international markets. Questions 1. Summarise your measurable export success/es in the past 24 months. Word count: Maximum Outline the key points of your international marketing strategy over the past months and what role it played in your company s success. Word count: Maximum What strategies (communication/advertising/promotional/partnerships etc.) have you implemented to promote and sustain awareness of your brand/s in overseas markets in the past months? Word count: Maximum Briefly explain how your company differentiates its product/service from the competition and how are you maintaining/improving this advantage. Word count: Maximum 400 Community Services Award. The Community Services award recognises businesses that provide services to the wider community. Businesses provide 100s of hours of donated time to the community every year. This award celebrates and pays tribute to such dedication and effort from businesses who show support for organisations including; community health care, heritage and arts, the environment, education, disability providers, not for profit organisations and sporting clubs. Questions: 1. Explain how the wider community benefits from your services? (Max word count 400) 2. Provide evidence of how your business has made direct contributions back into the wider community. (Max word count 400) 3. Provide details of any business / community partnerships developed and / or maintained as a direct result of your commitment to the community. (Max word count 450) 4. What measurable results have been achieved and how have they positively contributed to both your business and the community? (Max word count 350)

14 Hospitality / Leisure and Entertainment Award: Excellence in Hospitality, Leisure and Entertainment Services is awarded to a business or organisation, which delivers excellence in customer experience within the tourism, leisure entertainment and hospitality sector. This category is open to all businesses within these sectors that demonstrate high quality customer service, loyalty and return rate / and outstanding visitors experiences to our region. Questions: 1. Explain how your business provides excellence in customer experience within the tourism, leisure, entertainment and hospitality sector. (Max word count 450) 2. Provide details of how your business significantly contributes to the tourism experience within the region. (Max Word count 450) 3. Provide measurable evidence of how your business records, monitors customer loyalty, and or return rate within your business in the previous months. (Max word count 400) Marketing and Advertising Award: The Marketing and Advertising award recognises businesses who have undertaken an effective and innovative marketing/ advertising practice which has led to extraordinary success. Applicants should reflect the critical role marketing/advertising has a vital source of value creation for the business. Questions: 1. Provide details of how your business demonstrates excellence in marketing and advertising. (Max word count 450) 2. Explain your business achievements and or results through marketing / advertising campaign you have undertaken in the previous months. (Max word count 450) 3. Describe any key challenges you faced in developing a marketing / advertising campaign in the previous months and explain how you overcame it. (Max Word count 400)

15 New Business Award: The New Business Award recognises a new business that has been operational for more than six months but less than two years. Questions: 1. Provide details of why you opened your business? (Max word count 400) 2. Explain the market research you undertook to determine sustainability in the market. (Max word count 450) 3. Explain the strategies and plans to achieve your business growth over the previous 24 months. (Max word count 450) 4. How did you implement these strategies? (Max word count 400) 5. Detail the measurable results you achieved both financial and non-financial. (Max Word count 350) Professional Services Award. This award recognises businesses that provide specialist advice to their clients to manage and improve their business. Professional Services support businesses and clients of all sizes and in a wide range of industries. This could include tax advice, support for a company, business advice, technical or maintenance services, Apprenticeship Centres, employment agencies or service to individual clients. Questions: 1. Explain the services your business provides to the community. (Max word count 450) 2. Explain the strategies and plans to achieve your business growth over the previous months.. (Max word count 400) 3. Detail the measurable results that have been achieved, both financial and non-financial, and how have they positively contributed to client/customer satisfaction? (Max word count 400)

16 Retail Award: The Retail award showcases the highest achievement in customer service. Customer expectations are continuously rising and the wider business communities are becoming aware of the value and role that customer service plays in achieving business success. This category is looking for best practice in merchandising, service, and dedication to customer experience. Questions: 1. What are the core elements of your business? (Max Word count 300) 2. What strategies / procedures do you employ to achieve excellent service? (Max Word count 400) 3. Describe the level of customer service and the quality of products your business provides. (Max word count 350) 4. Provide evidence of how your business manages, monitors and measures customer expectations and satisfaction? (Max word count 400) TRAINING AWARD: The Training award recognises businesses that provide ongoing training to their staff, - in house or external. Questions: 1. Describe your companies training policy / or, how do you ensure your staff s skills are up to date and current? (Max word count 400) 2. How do you engage and encourage staff to undertake training? (Max word count 250) 3. Provide evidence of your company s achievements in employing trainees/ apprentices. (Max word count 350) Note: For full terms and conditions on all categories please see

17 Hints and tips: Your business does not have to be in the Coffs LGA to enter. All businesses located in Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Woolgoolga, Corinidi, Urunga, Bellingen, and Dorrigo with a registered ABN number are eligible to enter. Hall of Fame A Business which has won the same award category consecutively for three years automatically goes into the Hall of Fame. This precludes them from entering that particular award for a year; however they are eligible to enter any other category. Should a business have been unsuccessful winning a category in the past this should not discouraged you from entering this year. Everyone has an equal opportunity of winning! You do not have to be a member of the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce to enter the awards. Ensure you use the word count effectively and be as factual as possible. Sell yourself readers need to feel your passion for your business. Ensure you stick to the criteria and in reviewing your nomination cross check that you have answered the brief. All questions need to be answered. It is sometimes helpful to develop key dot points of reference before formalising your answers. It is advantageous to ensure you use the maximum word count but not exceed it. Examples need to be factual and qualified. How to enter: Its Easy!!

18 Via the website Select Entry Forms at the top of the page. Register address and password A confirmation will be sent to you you need to click on the link to confirm your address. Return to the Login box enter your address and password click on log in. Download each application/s needed and complete. Save it to your local hard drive. Logon again Upload completed application/s forms and 4 pictures Be patient as some files can take a while to upload depending on internet speed. Look for a confirmation advising your submission has been successful. If you have trouble downloading /uploading your application/s please contact: The Sunnys Business Awards Team info@sunnysbusinessawards.info Ph: Leonie