The City of Sydney Business Awards, an event that recognises outstanding and successful small to medium sized enterprises (SME) in the city’s Local Government Area, will be even bigger and better this year.
Nominations will be open from 16 June to 30 July 2010, and over 20,000 independent SME businesses from 32 suburbs will be eligible to enter the competition.
With its increasing popularity, 2009 saw the most successful year of the awards yet with over 600 businesses nominated and over 35 000 votes cast by the public. This will be the seventh year the City of Sydney has held the Business Awards, providing local SMEs the opportunity to market, promote and network their business.
Businesses and the public will be able to nominate a business that employs less than 200 full-time employees within the Local Government Area until 30 July 2010. Winners in all categories will go into the running for Small Business of the Year and Business of the Year. There are $25,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. This year there are 20 categories, including the new Bicycle Business.
The City is supporting businesses by upgrading streets, parks and precincts to attract more people as part of its Sustainable Sydney 2030 Plan. The new award category for 2010, ‘Bicycle Business,’ compliments the City’s Sydney 2030 efforts that encourage more bike riders in Sydney City.
Businesses eligible to be nominated in this new category include: bicycle manufacturers, distributors, retailers and parts or component manufacturers. The winner will be awarded a $2000 business coaching prize provided by City of Sydney.
The official launch will be on 16 June 2010, 11am – 12pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art, winner the 2009 Creative and Cultural Services Category. The MCA was also awarded the Lord Mayor’s Sustainable Business Prize sponsored by EnergyAustralia. The Lord Mayor Clover Moore and 2009 Category winners will speak at the event.
Nominations and voting will open 16 June 2010. Votes for nominated businesses can be made on www.sydneybusinessawards.com.au or via SMS and the top vote-getters in each category will qualify as finalists, announced on 9 August 2010. Voters could win $1500 in a cash prize draw. Business Award Winners will be announced at the City of Sydney Business Awards Gala Dinner, MC’d by Sunrise co-host David Koch, on 20 September 2010.
For more information, to nominate and vote go to www.sydneybusinessawards.com.au.