Nominations NOW OPEN for the 2023 EnergyAustralia Black Rose Excellence in Business Awards

CATEGORY ELIGIBILITY AND QUESTIONS

NOMINATIONS EXTENDED TO 22 OCTOBER 2023

Applications can be lodged electronically at Lithgow Region Black Rose Business Awards (awardsplatform.com)

EXCELLENCE IN MICRO BUSINESS AWARD

The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.  

Entry criteria 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of business excellence.  This category is open to businesses with less than 5 employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for a period of over 24 months. 

Award eligibility check box 

• This business has been trading for a continuous period of two years or more and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry. 
• This business has less than 5 employees on the payroll in Australia at the time of entry.  
• This business has not entered the categories of Outstanding Community Organisation, Outstanding Start-up, Excellence in Small Business or Excellence in Business. 

Questions 

1. Detail what your business goals and key milestones were for the previous 12 months and how you achieved all or part of them.  Maximum word count: 300 
2. Provide an overview of the key features of your business plan including goals, innovations, strategies, projected outcomes for the future.  Maximum word count: 400 
3. Describe why your product or service offering is unique within your industry and how it differentiates your business from its competitors.  Maximum word count: 400 
4. Demonstrate how your business contributes to the local economy in your region. Maximum word count: 400 
5. Outline the key challenges your business has faced over the past 12 months and explain how you have managed the impact of these challenges on your workforce and external stakeholders, as well as the impact they have had on your strategic direction.  Maximum word count: 400 

EXCELLENCE IN SMALL BUSINESS AWARD

The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience. 

Entry criteria 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of business excellence.  This category is open to businesses with 5 to 20 employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for a period of over 24 months. 

Award eligibility check box 

• This business has been trading for a continuous period of two years or more and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry. 
• This business has 5 to 20 employees on the payroll in Australia at the time of entry. 
• This business has not entered the categories of Outstanding Community Organisation, Outstanding Start-up, Excellence in Micro Business or Excellence in Business.  

Questions 

1. Detail what your business goals and key milestones were for the previous 12 months and how you achieved all or part of them.  Maximum word count: 300 
2. Provide an overview of the key features of your business plan including goals, innovations, strategies, projected outcomes for the future.  Maximum word count: 400 
3. Describe why your product or service offering is unique within your industry and differentiates your business from competitors.  Maximum word count: 400 
4. Demonstrate how your business contributes to the local economy in your region. Maximum word count: 400 
5. Outline the key challenges your business has faced over the past 12 months and explain how you have managed the impact of these challenges on your workforce and external stakeholders, as well as the impact they have had on your strategic direction.  Maximum word count: 400 

EXCELLENCE IN LARGE BUSINESS AWARD

The Excellence in Large Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience. 

Entry criteria 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of business excellence.  This category is open to businesses with 21 or more employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for a period of over 24 months. 

Award eligibility check box 

• This business has been trading for a continuous period of two years or more and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry. 
• This business has 21 or more employees on the payroll in Australia at the time of entry. 
• This business has not entered the categories of Outstanding Community Organisation, Outstanding Start-up, Excellence in Micro Business or Excellence in Small Business.  

Questions 

1. Detail what your business goals and key milestones were for the previous 12 months and how you achieved all or part of them.  Maximum word count: 300 
2. Provide an overview of the key features of your business plan including goals, innovations, strategies, projected outcomes for the future. Maximum word count: 400 
3. Describe why your product or service offering is unique within your industry and differentiates your business from competitors.  Maximum word count: 400 
4. Demonstrate how your business contributes to the local economy in your region.  Maximum word count: 400 
5. Outline the key challenges your business has faced over the past 12 months and explain how you have managed the impact of these challenges on your workforce and external stakeholders, as well as the impact they have had on your strategic direction.  Maximum word count: 400 

OUTSTANDING START UP AWARD 

The Outstanding Start-up Award recognises a start-up business in the Lithgow LGA that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the potential to achieve future success. 

Entry criteria 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to being an outstanding start-up.  This category is open to new businesses trading for a period of less than 24 months.  

Award eligibility check box 

• This business has been trading for a period of less than two years and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry. 
• This business has not been purchased or acquired and is not part of a franchise. 
• The business has not entered the categories of Outstanding Community Organisation, Excellence in Micro Business, Excellence in Small Business or Excellence in Business. 

Questions  

1. Provide an overview of your start-up business including the product or service delivered to the market, how you identified it as a market need and who your target customer is.  Maximum word count: 200 
2. Provide an overview of the key features of your business development strategy and projected outcomes for the future.  Maximum word count: 300  
3. Describe why your product or service offering is unique within your industry and differentiates your business from competitors.  Maximum word count: 300 
4. Detail the measurable growth and key milestones you have achieved since launching your business.  Maximum word count: 400 
5. Describe the key challenges your business has faced as a start-up and how you overcame them. Maximum word count: 400 

EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AWARD

The Excellence in Innovation Award recognises a business in the Lithgow LGA that has implemented innovative solutions for new and existing needs through the introduction or improvement of a product, technology, or application that impacts the wider community. 

Entry criteria 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of innovation. 

Award eligibility check box 

• The business has been trading for a continuous period of two or more years and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry. 

Questions 

1. Outline the innovation implemented and how it has addressed a new or existing need.  Maximum word count: 400  
2. Describe why the innovation is unique within your industry and how it differentiates your business from its competitors.  Maximum word count: 300 
3. Describe how the innovation was received by the market and external stakeholders.  Maximum word count: 300 
4. Demonstrate how the innovation has or is likely to have a positive impact on the community.  Maximum word count: 400  
5. Provide measurable evidence of how the innovation has improved the identified need, driven growth and contributed to the success of your business.  Maximum word count: 400  

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AWARD

The Outstanding Community Organisation Award recognises an organisation based in the Lithgow LGA that improves the social, cultural and/or environmental wellbeing of the local community.

Entry criteria 

Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to being an outstanding community organisation.  This category is open to social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations that have been trading for a period of over 24 months. 

Award eligibility check box 

• The organisation has been trading for a continuous period of two or more years and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry. 
• The organisation has not entered the categories of Outstanding Start-up, Excellence in Micro Business, Excellence in Small Business or Excellence in Business. 

Questions  

1. Explain the social purpose of your organisation and how it contributes to the social, cultural, or environmental wellbeing of the community.  Maximum word count: 300 
2. Provide an overview of your organisation, including the product or service you deliver within the community.  Maximum word count: 200 
3. Provide an overview of the key features of your business development strategy and projected outcomes for the future.  Maximum word count: 300 
4. Demonstrate how your organisation contributes to the local economy in your region.  Maximum word count: 400 
5. Outline the key challenges your organisation has faced over the past 12 months and explain how you have managed the impact of these challenges.  Maximum word count: 400 

BEST APPRENTICE /TRAINEE AWARD

Awarded to an Apprentice or Trainee who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and made a valuable contribution to the success of the business they work for.

Employer Questions

1. What is the name of your nominated apprentice or trainee and when did they join your organisation Maximum word count: 100
2. What has been the employee’s most outstanding contribution to your organisation? Maximum word count: 200
3. How does the employee benefit your business and your customers? Maximum word count: 200 
4. Describe the employee’s attitude and commitment to his or her profession, including examples that display initiative in the workplace. Maximum word count: 200

Questions to be answered by the Apprentice or Trainee.

1. Describe your apprenticeship or traineeship and outline the reasons for choosing your field of specialisation?  Maximum word count: 300

• What are your goals after completing your apprenticeship or traineeship? Maximum word count: 200

• Briefly describe the most significant contribution you’ve made to your employer and how can you contribute further in the future. Maximum word count: 200

People’s Choice Award – Favourite Lithgow LGA business  

People’s Choice Award recognises a business or not for profit organisation that  demonstrates a commitment to serving its customers well.  

Entry criteria  

The business or organisation has been trading for a continuous period of two years or more and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry.  

Nominations  

Nominations can only be made once. 

Nominations are based on the business’s commitment over the past 2 years to –  

1. Customer service 

2. Good pricing 

3. Offering a unique service in the LGA 

4. Both 1 & 2  

Other – nominees need to specify