Calls to celebrate Great Southern businesses as nominations open for 2023 awards

A number of new categories have been added to the 2023 Great Southern Business Awards which officially opened for nominations this week.

The annual awards, coordinated by the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are a celebration of the contributions made by the region’s leading and upcoming businesses as well as individuals.

Nominations are now open across 13 categories and the top prize of Business of the Year will be selected from those nominees.

ACCI chief executive Kristen Pyrz-Brown said new “broader” categories were introduced so more businesses would know where they fit.

“Based on feedback from our training organisation members and those in the trades we have also created an apprentice or trainee of the year category to encourage employers to elevate and recognise those who are just starting out in their chosen industries,” she said.

Businesses can be nominated in categories based on being a start-up, having more or less than 10 employees, being home-based or based on their level of innovation or environmentally sustainable practices.

They can also be nominated according to their sector with categories dedicated to food and beverage manufacturing, excellence in tourism and hospitality and Indigenous organisation of the year.

Individually people can be nominated for employee of the year, business person of the year and young business person of the year, as well as the newly introduced trainee or apprentice of the year.

Any business or individual operating within the Great Southern can be nominated via the ACCI website until applications close on August 13.

Ms Pyrz-Brown said there were so many businesses and individuals “doing incredible things” that would be worthy of nomination.

“It seems to be a very ‘regional’ trait to humbly toil away doing amazing work without realising just how much of an impact you’re having,” she said.

“The reason we have an open nomination process rather than just a self-nomination or pure application process is so that those outside of the business who know the great work they’re doing can put forward worthy applicants.”

She said the awards allowed businesses to celebrate achieving their goals as well as the contributions of their staff.