2014 NSW Business Chamber Business Awards Entry Info Pack

Transcription

1 2014 NSW Business Chamber Business Awards Entry Info Pack Celebrating and recognising business excellence in NSW. Showcasing the success of our members. Strengthening business in NSW.

2 Introduction You ve taken the first step to participating in the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards. Entering the Business Awards program is a valuable endeavor that can deliver great benefits to your organisation and to your people. This pack is designed to help you understand the Business Awards process, as well as provide a step-by-step guide to completing your online entry. The NSW Business Chamber Business Awards have been recognising business excellence for over a decade, and every year the program gets bigger and bigger. This year, the regional program continues to run in regions across NSW, with regional winners proceeding as finalists to the State Awards. If you have any questions about the Business Awards Program or your entry, please call the NSW Business Chamber Business Hotline on Table of contents: 1. Introduction key award dates award categories 4. Benefits of entering 5. Eligibility 6. How to enter 7. Entry questions by category 8. The online entry process step by step 9. Judging process

3 2014 key award dates REGION ENTRIES OPEN ENTRIES CLOSE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED GALA DINNER Central West Orana 12 February March 11 April 2014 Friday 9 May Northern Rivers 7 March 18 April May 2014 Friday 13 June South Eastern 30 April June June 2014 Friday 25 July 2014 Sydney Northern 1 May June July 2014 Friday 22 August 2014 Sydney/Western Sydney (WSABE) ^ Murray-Riverina 26 May July July 2014 Friday 15 August 2014 Mid North Coast 23 June August August 2014 Friday 19 September 2014 South Western Sydney North Eastern Sydney New England North West 2 June July August 2014 Friday 5 September June July August 2014 Friday 12 September June August 9 September Friday 26 September State N/A N/A 17 October November 2014 ^ In conjunction with the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence. Find out more. *Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence Gala Dinner

4 2014 award categories There are 12 award categories three recognising individual excellence and achievement, and seven recognising business excellence. You can enter as many categories as are appropriate to your business 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. 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. 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 Excellence in Business Ethics Recognises an outstanding business or business person that has been able to achieve business success while acting in an ethically responsible way. 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. 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. *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 20 or less full time employees) The Excellence in Small Business award recognises a company (employing less than 20 employees) that has attained significant growth and is able to demonstrate the specific

5 strategies and processes implemented to achieve sustainable growth in the financial year to 30 June Excellence in Business (for businesses employing more than 20 full time 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 months. 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. 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. Excellence in workplace health and safety This Award recognises a business that is creating a safe and healthy work environment through the implementation of outstanding WHS management systems, solutions and practices in businesses. Local Chamber of Commerce^ The Local Chamber of the Year Award recognises the achievements of a Local Chamber in supporting their members to maximise their business potential. ^To enter into this award Category, Local Chambers must be part of the NSW Business Chamber Local Chamber Alliance program

6 Benefits of entering Entering the Business Awards provides your business with an unparalleled opportunity to: Gain recognition at a local, regional and state level Raise the profile of your business and showcase your business to a state-wide, country-wide and global audience Build a reputation for excellence inside and outside of your industry. Benchmark your business year on year and against other businesses in your area and industry. Improve employee engagement by involving your employees in the entry process. Boost staff morale through the recounting of successes and wins in your business All finalists and winners receive an official Business Awards FINALIST or WINNER logo which can be used on collateral, websites, business cards, signage. Finalists and winners also become part of the NSW Business Chamber Business Award Alumni Program, an exclusive group representing the best of the best in business in NSW.

7 Australia has not traditionally been successful in commercialising local technology. This Award demonstrates that success against the odds is attainable, and we are proud to be an example to other companies and entrepreneurs. Mark Bishop, Chief Executive Officer, Ocular Robotics Winner, Excellence in Innovation 2013 Winner, Business of the Year 2013 Winning these business awards reflects my personal passion and courage in overcoming so many personal and cultural challenges and be recognised for my drive and hard work within the business community to create a commercially successful and value driven business. Sharon Winsor, Managing Director, Indigiearth, Mudgee Winner, Business Leader 2013 Winning this Award demonstrates to our clients the achievements of our business to date, and reinforces our commitment to continuing our growth and development in years to come, Kristy-Lee Johnston, Director, The Footprint Group Winner, Young Entrepreneur 2013 Winning this Award has provided us with the reassurance that we are meeting the challenges of the global market and are succeeding. This gives us the confidence to continue building on our past achievements to gain even better results in the future. Sarah Chi, Director, Director, SWA Water Australia Winner, Excellence in Export 2013 Winning awards such as the Excellence in Sustainability Award provides recognition for all the hard work done in our day to day working life. Any award issued to a regional business by the NSW Business Chamber, a key industry body in NSW, carries a lot of prestige. Nigel Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, Edstein Creative Stone Winner, Excellence in Sustainability 2013

8 Eligibility NSW Business Chamber members Entry to the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards is open to: All financial members of NSW Business Chamber (including Australian Business Defence Industry Unit members). Local Chamber of Commerce members: Entry to the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards is open to: Free of charge members of NSW Business Chamber on the Local Chamber of Commerce Free of Charge (FOC) limited entitlement membership package Members of local chambers of commerce that are part of the NSW Business Chamber s Chamber Alliance Partner Program (please note local chamber members need opt-in to the Chamber Alliance Partner Program via their local chamber) Affiliated chambers Entry to the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards is open to: Hunter Business Chamber members that are also joint members of NSW Business Chamber through the affiliate agreement between NSW Business Chamber and Hunter Business Chamber are eligible to enter, but must enter via the Hunter Business Awards. Illawarra Business Chamber members that are also joint members of NSW Business Chamber through the affiliate agreement between NSW Business Chamber and Illawarra Business Chamber are eligible to enter, but must enter via the Illawarra Business Awards. Businesses must have been operating for a minimum of two years. Exclusions: 2013 Regional Winners and State category winners cannot enter the same category in 2014, but are eligible to enter a different category or categories. This excludes the Local Chamber of the Year category. Entry into individual and business awards categories is not open to Board members of the NSW Business Chamber, Hunter Business Chamber and Illawarra Business Chamber (including their businesses). Entry into Young Business Executive, Young Entrepreneur and Business Leader categories is not open to NSW Business Chamber Regional Advisory Councillors.

9 How to enter All entries must be submitted online via businessannualawards.com.au. Online access your login To login you must be a web-enabled member of NSW Business Chamber your username and password are the same as your login details to log in to the NSW Business Chamber website. Call to get web enabled. Online entry three main sections There are three main sections to your online entry, once you have logged in: 1. Your Entry Details Basic business information will pre-populate from data we have on record. Update as required and submit once complete 2. Core Questions Four broad-based business questions. All entrants to complete only once, even if you are entering more than one category. Submit once complete. 3. Entry Dashboard Select and complete entries for the categories you wish enter status bar shows your progress for each. Submit each category as you complete them

10 The questions What questions will you need to answer once you start your entry? It can be helpful to prepare you answers before you start your online entry, particularly if you need to get input from other areas of your business. Below we outline every question from each section. Your Entry Details Business Trading Name* Business Display Name this is how we will refer to your business name in any marketing or promotions for example, if you become a finalist it is how we will list your company name on the website, marketing and slides on the night etc. ABN* Date Established* Annual Turnover* Number of Employees* Entry Contact First Name* Entry Contact Last Name* Entry Contact Phone Number* Entry Contact * Entry Contact Job Title* You will also be asked to accept the Terms and Conditions of entry in this section. *Indicates mandatory field Core Questions These broad-based business questions are required to be completed by all entrants (except Local Chamber of Commerce entrants). This only needs to be completed once regardless of how many categories are entered into. 1. Describe what your business does? Word count: Max Explain the overall objectives of your business? Word count: Max Explain what winning these business awards would mean to your business? Word Count How will your business act as a role model in the future? Word count: 250

11 Category Questions The Category Questions are accessed via the Entry Dashboard, which is where you enter for the categories you wish to participate in. Young Business Executive (Age 18-35) 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. Provide a current profile including current job role and scope of responsibilities (dot points sufficient). Word count: Max What is your employment background? (dot points sufficient). 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 in the previous months. 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 Where and from whom do you seek your inspiration from and why? Word count: Max What do you believe makes you a good leader? Word count: Max 300 Young Entrepreneur (Age 18-35) 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. Please detail the measurable achievements in your business in the previous months? 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 Where and from whom do you seek your inspiration from and why? Word count: Max How do you demonstrate inspiration to other young entrepreneurial people? Word count: Max Why do you believe you should win this award? Word count: 300

12 Business Leader (Age 36+) 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. Provide a current profile of yourself including your title, current business role, scope of responsibilities. Word count: Why do you believe you should be considered as a business leader? Word count: Provide an overview of your 5 year goals /milestones. Word count: Detail your achievements in business in the previous months. Word count: Describe the key challenges you have faced as a business leader in the past 12 months and how you overcame them. Word count: Demonstrate how you have helped the community (and or the business community) overcome social or environmental problems. Word count: 300 Excellence in Business Ethics 1. Explain how your business demonstrates excellence in business ethics? Word count: How do ethical practices contribute to your business success? Provide evidence. Word count: Detail measurable evidence of how you contribute to your local community Word count: Describe how your business interacts with your employees to promote excellence in business ethics with your suppliers and customers. Word count: 350 Excellence in Innovation 1. Explain how your business reacts to changes in the market including how your business acquires an understanding of emerging customer and market needs. Word count: Provide evidence of how your business is innovative, with specific examples over the previous months. Word count: Provide details of the commercialisation, adoption or take up of the innovation and its sustainability over time. 4. Provide measurable evidence of how innovative activity in your business in the previous months has helped grow or improve your business. Word count: 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: How are these improvements or impacts to the business measured? Word Count: 300

13 Excellence in Sustainability* *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. 1. Describe your business environmental sustainability goals. Word count: Describe the initiatives/actions your organisation has undertaken to achieve its sustainability objectives in the previous months. Word Count: 400 words 3. Describe your sustainability achievements over the last 12 months. Word count: Describe how you involve staff in your environmental initiatives. Word count: Provide measurable evidence of how these achievements have positively contributed to your business and /or community. Word count: Explain how you measure your sustainability achievements and their impacts. Word count: 300 Excellence in Small Business (for businesses employing 20 or less full time employees) 1. Describe your business growth in the previous months. Word count: Explain strategies and plans to achieve your business growth over the previous months? Word count: How did you implement these strategies? Word count: What measurable results did you achieve and how are they demonstrated? Word count: 400 Excellence in Business (for businesses employing more than 20 full time employees) 1. Describe your business growth in the previous months. Word count: Detail your strategies and plans to achieve your business growth over the previous months? Word count: How did you implement these strategies? Word count: What measurable results did you achieve and how are they demonstrated? Word count: 400 Employer of Choice 1. Number of full time employees. 2. Explain any specific HR and WHS programs and policies you have undertaken in the previous months Word count: Why did your business embark on this project/s and/or initiatives? Word count: 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: Identify and describe the benefits you offer as an Employer of Choice? Word Count 400

14 Excellence in workplace health and safety 1. Explain the assessment processes in place to identify, control and review health and safety risks in your businesses. Max 300 words 2. Explain how businesses officers (directors, company secretaries, senior managers) are made aware of their of OHS responsibilities Word Count: 200 words 3. Provide details of your health and safety management systems and practices in your workplace? Word Count: 400 words 4. Provide measurable evidence of the workplace health and safety initiatives you have implemented and how they have created a safer work environment. Word Count: 300 words Excellence in Export 1. Summarise your measurable export success/es in the past months. Word count: 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: 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: Briefly explain how your company differentiates its product/service from the competition and how are you maintaining/improving this advantage. Word count: 400 Local Chamber of Commerce^ ^To enter into this award Category, Local Chambers must be part of the NSW Business Chamber Local Chamber Alliance program Entry Questions Local Chamber of Commerce name. * Date Established.* Please describe the geographical area which your Local Chamber covers.* Number of members.* Does your Chamber employ full time staff? Does your Chamber receive any funding? If yes, where from? Entry Contact First Name.* Entry Contact Last Name.* Entry Contact Phone Number.* Entry Contact .* 1. What was the net member movement in the previous 12 months? (In real and percentage terms). Detail any factors that affected this movement. Word count: Describe the key initiative that your Local Chamber has undertaken in the last months. Detail the specific and quantifiable outcomes of these initiatives on your local business community? Word count: Specify how you engage with your local business community. Word count: Describe how you engage with the NSW Business Chamber. Word count: Outline any key lessons you have learned in the last 12 months. Word count: 400

15 The online entry process step by step Logging in for the first time via the website If you are entering via the website, you be asked to enter your postcode, to determine which region you are in. Enter your postcode then hit Find. The Postcode Locator will tell you which region you are in and whether entries are open. You then simply need to click Enter now

16 You will then be directed to the login page. Log in using your NSW Business Chamber website member login. Call to set up a login and password. Logging in for the first time coming straight to the website via a link provided to you For example from an we have sent you advising that entries are now open. In this instance you will be directed directly to the login page, as above. Log in using your NSW Business Chamber website member login. Call to set up a login and password.

17 Your Award Entry Details Once logged in you will come to the Entry Details page. This information will pre-populate from information we have on record for your membership account. You can make changes to all sections apart from the Address information, as this is linked to the region you are entered into. Please note any changes made on your online entry won t be updated in our records. Call to update your details with us. (It is important we have the correct details for you in our records).

18 You must tick I agree to terms and conditions You must submit Entry Details before you can proceed to the next step. Click the submit button at the bottom of the page. If you do not complete all the questions, you will see an error message at the top of the page in red, telling you which questions you still need to answer:

19 Once you have completed and submitted Entry Details, the next stage of online entry will be available to you Entry Dashboard. You will see three tabs at the tops of the page.

20 Entry Dashboard Once you have completed Entry Details, you will move on to the Core Questions in the Entry Dashboard. This section contains four broad-based business questions. All entrants need to complete only once, even if you are entering more than one category. Save as you answer. Submit once complete. Type your answers directly into the text box. You can edit (bullets, numbered bullets, indent, paragraph). Your entry will auto-save every 10 seconds but you can use the Save button on each question for extra peace of mind. Every time you save it will show you your current word count ensure you adhere to the recommended word count it may count against you if you exceed the word count. Submit at the end of the page once you have completed all questions. You cannot make any changes once you have submitted.

21 Entry Dashboard Once you have submitted your Core Questions, you can then select which category you would like to enter in the Category Questions. This is the area where you select which categories you wish to enter and manage your entries across multiple categories. Click the Enter now button to start you entry. Save and come back to you entry to complete it in your own time. Category questions Once you have selected your category and clicked the Enter now button you will be taken through to the following page. There is one question per page you can move between questions as required by clicking Next button at the bottom of the questions or clicking the number at the top. Type your answers directly into the text box. You can edit (bullets, numbered bullets, indent, paragraph). Your answers will auto-save every 10 seconds

22 Use the Save button on each question for extra peace of mind. Every time you save it will show you your current word count ensure you adhere to the recommended word count it may count against you if you exceed the word count. Once you have completed all your answers you can preview all on one page. You can also view the preview page if you have not completed all the questions, to review your current answers all on one page You can also export your answers (complete OR incomplete) to PDF to share with others in your organisation for review or approval before you submit. Carefully review your answers before you submit. Once you are ready to complete your entry in that category, hit the Submit. You cannot make any changes once you have submitted

23 Once you have submitted, return to the Entry Dashboard to enter other questions and check the status of your current entries. The Dashboard will show Submitted if you have submitted your entry into that particular category. You cannot make any changes to an entry once you have submitted. Even though you can t make any changes to a submitted category entry, you can still export to a pdf to review your answers. Click the export to PDF button. The Dashboard will show percentage complete for entries you are still working on. Click the My Entry button to access that entry.

24 Judging process NSW Business Chamber Business Awards follows a rigorous judging process at both regional and state level. Judges are selected from subject matter experts or practitioners in the area relating to the award category, academics in the field, award category sponsors and NSW Business Chamber representatives. Judging takes place online, which is why only online entries will be accepted into the NSW Business Chamber Business Awards. Entries are judged individually scores are then collated and averaged and weightings are applied to achieve a final score. Finalists will be announced once judging is complete. Finalists will be notified by phone and , and announced on the Business Awards website.