Business Excellence Awards

Celebrate the achievements of businesses throughout the Charters Towers Region at the Business Excellence Awards Gala alongside like-minded businesses, leaders, and fellow entrants.

This will be a night not to be missed.  Tickets will go on sale on Monday, 3 April 2023

WHEN:      Saturday, 20 May 2023

WHERE:    Arthur Titley Centre, Mosman Street, Charters Towers

More information will be released closer to the date.

Customer Excellence

Delivers consistent high quality service that is responsive to customer needs, acts on feedback and goes the extra mile to satisfy.  Includes, but is not limited to, retail, primary industry, health and social assistance, tourism, and hospitality, professional, and trades.

Technology & Innovation Impact

Creates or commercialises technologies, products (including digital products), processes or services, for new and existing market needs, or adapts existing technologies, products, processes, or services.  This includes, but is not limited to, primary industry, manufacturing, retail, health and wellbeing, community services, tourism and hospitality, mining, and professional services.

Employer of Choice

An employer that offers fantastic work culture and workplace environment that attracts and retains a local workforce.  An employer who prioritises safety, wellbeing, training, and skills development for employees and maximises workforce potential through effective employee recruitment, engagement, and retention and supports individual employees to achieve their professional and personal potential.

Environmental Contribution

Implements initiatives that have a positive long-term sustainability impact on the environment including waste and water reduction, energy efficiency, recycling, minimising logistics impacts (e.g sourcing locally), revegetation and biodiversity initiatives, land management practices and/or offers products and services that have positive environmental outcomes.  This includes, but is not limited to organisations that make responsible decisions to reduce the negative impacts on the environment.

New & Emerging Business

Recently established business or service (under 2 years) that identified a market need and has built a commercially viable business model.

Business of the Year

A business that delivers the highest standards and quality and acknowledges the importance of giving back to our local community, has strong business practices for long-term success integrating social, ethical, environmental, and philanthropical values into decision-making processes and company culture.

People’s Choice

The community will have the chance to vote for their favourite nominated business across all categories.  Voting will be open Monday, 6 March 2023 and close Tuesday, 28 March 2023.

Nominations and entries will open Monday, 30 January 2023

We encourage all businesses to consider applying to increase profile and networking opportunities and give yourself a chance to shine in your niche, build team spirit, strategically examine your business, and celebrate at the night of all nights, the Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner.

The Charters Towers Region Business Excellence Awards are designed to celebrate the efforts and achievements of our diverse and dedicated business community and recognise their contribution, not only to economic vitality but to creating the strong, healthy, vibrant regional community that is the Charters Towers Region.

The Charters Towers Region Business Excellence Awards will have several benefits for all entrants, regardless of whether they progress as a finalist or winner.

The awards will provide both business opportunities and personal challenge including but not limited to:

• An opportunity to review your current business position to identify key areas of what you do best and where current processes can be improved as you plan for the future.

• Enhanced and expanded exposure for your business through promotion of your services throughout a wider audience

• A chance to celebrate your business journey by taking the time to reflect on all your trials and successes

• An opportunity to reflect upon, recognise and reward those who have contributed to your business’ success and their role within your business

Businesses can self-nominate in any category or accept nominations from community members.

To enter:

1. Ensure you and your business are eligible to enter (read the Rules of Entry here).
2. Follow this link to make your nomination. 
3. Decide which category (or categories) you want to enter.  You may enter as many categories as you think are appropriate to you and your business. 
4. Complete your entry via the online Entry Form.  Submissions close 11.59pm AEST Monday, 27 February 2023
5. Once entries have closed, your submission will be assessed by an expert industry panel.  The shortlist of finalists will be announced Friday, 14 April 2023 and the winners announced at the Gala Dinner on Saturday, 20 May 2023.

Do you have questions? 

Please contact Melanie Lavelle-Maloney, Council's Tourism, Trade & Investment Advisor at mlavelle-maloney@charterstowers.qld.gov.au or phone 4761 5300.

Following are some hints and tips for completing an application.

• Have all your information ready before you start.
• Create a log in and password so that you can leave and return to your submission at any time.
• Make sure you complete every section properly and proofread before submitting.
• Uploads that may be required include:
  • Up to three photos, including a business logo (these will be used on marketing and promotional material associated with the event, including Council's website, social media, and relevant publications, or by other media and marketing channels, if you are selected as a finalist.
  • Supporting business documents, such as financial viability statement from accountant.
• When uploading documents, valid file types are doc, xls, pdf, jpg, png, and gif files
• Maximum file size allowed for upload is 10 MB.
• File names cannot contain any special characters (alphanumeric characters only)

A panel of independent business advisors and a local community representative have been selected to judge entries. Judges will score business entries using information in sections 3 through 9 as submitted on the entry form.  Each area of Strategic and Business Planning, Marketing Strategy, Competitive Advantage, Customer Centricity, Staff Development & Support, Innovation & Digital Presence, and Sustainability will receive a section score as well as an overall score. 

Finalists will be notified on Friday, 14 April 2023 and may receive a phone call shortly after.  Award winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner on Saturday, 20 May 2023.

If the judges believe that an entry has been placed in an incorrect category, the judges reserve the right to transfer the submission into another category.

Judges reserve the right not to present an award if the circumstances do not warrant such an award.  The decision of the judges is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.