Josh's Rainbow Eggs Macedon Ranges Business Excellence Awards

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The biennial Josh's Rainbow Eggs Macedon Ranges Business Excellence Awards are returning in 2024. The awards aim to recognise and acknowledge deserving businesses for their outstanding service, innovation, products and professionalism.  

The awards offer opportunities and experiences that will enhance and improve your business by: 

  • completing a 'business health check' when entering the awards (businesses will be able to assess their strengths and weaknesses and have their application reviewed for feedback)
  • being recognised as a finalist or winner within the Macedon Ranges  
  • fostering new relationships and connect up with entrants and professionals at events
  • receiving free PR and marketing advice through mentorship. 

There are 11 award categories, including the People's Choice Award and Business of the Year, that will showcase the diversity of businesses throughout the Macedon Ranges.

Start your nomination

The self-nomination period has now closed. If you would like feedback on your draft nomination, please submit by Wednesday 27 March. Feedback will be provided by Monday 8 April to allow you enough time to make any changes prior to the final submission date of Wednesday 24 April.

Review nomination

Watch this handy video full of hints and tips on how to complete your nomination.

Key dates

  • Monday 20 November 2023 – Self-nomination period open
  • Wednesday 31 January 2024 – Mentoring session 
  • Friday 15 March 2024 – Self-nomination period closes 
  • Wednesday 27 March – Last date to submit draft nomination for feedback prior to final submission due date
  • Friday 8 April 2024 – Feedback on draft nomination (if requested) provided
  • Wednesday 24 April 2024 – Final submissions due 
  • Monday 6 May to Friday 31 May 2024 – Judging period
  • Monday 10 June to Friday 28 June 2024 – Judges site visits 
  • Tuesday 23 July 2024 – Finalists announced 
  • Tuesday 23 July 2024 – People’s Choice voting opens 
  • Tuesday 23 July 2024 – Tickets on sale for gala event 
  • Friday 16 August 2024 – RSVPs due for gala event 
  • Monday 26 August 2024 – People's Choice Award voting closes 
  • Friday 30 August  2024 – Gala event

Mentoring session

The face-to-face mentoring session due to be held at Macedon and Mount Macedon Community House, 47 Victoria Street, Macedon on Wednesday 31 January 2024 has been cancelled. 

Please view the video in the "Start your nomination" section of this webpage for tips on how to complete your nomination or contact businessawards@mrsc.vic.gov.au if you would like to discuss the process.

Award categories

Award Category

Description

Excellence in Agribusiness and Food Manufacturing

Recognising businesses for their outstanding achievement in — and contribution to — the food, beverage and agribusiness industries in and around the shire. This award is open to businesses that grow and/or produce food, fibre, animal husbandry and beverage related products (e.g. livestock, vignerons, wool, horses & flowers).

Excellence in Manufacturing, Trades, Retail and Innovation

Designed to recognise manufacturers that display innovation and best practice in the creation and delivery of a product. The primary focus of the award is to acknowledge continuous improvement, best practice, creativity and innovation within the Macedon Ranges.

On the tools, these businesses keep our community in operation. This award is designed to recognise trade businesses that require on-the-job or tertiary-level training. Applicants for this category can come from industries that include beauticians, carpenters, car or bicycle mechanics, electricians, hairdressers, landscapers and plumbers as well as traditional manufacturing.

Excellence in Health, Wellness and Care

This award recognises businesses that provide excellence in health and allied health services. An applicant’s business should function in health care by providing an aspect or range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and direct patient care and support services. Examples include businesses that specialise in medicine and/or operate in health as an audiologist, dietitian, exercise physiologist, nutritionist, occupational therapist, optometrist, physiotherapist, podiatrist, psychologist, speech pathologist and/or provide other similar or related professional health services. This award recognises innovators from any wellness sector – spa, fitness, nutrition, workplace wellness, integrative medicine and preventive health.

Small and Thriving Award

This award recognises established small businesses that continue to grow, support staff and truly connect with customers. Applicants for this category must be businesses with 1 to 5 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

Excellence in Professional Services

Designed to recognise professional services offering B2C/B2B solutions and customised, knowledge-based services. Some example businesses include those operating in legal services, real estate, accounting and financial advisory, architecture, engineering, information technology and consulting. Applicants for this category should have an established business and strong client base.

Excellence in Tourism and Visitor Experience

These businesses know how to hustle and bring business to the shire. This award recognises businesses in the arts, attractions, cultural tourism, accommodation, entertainment, festival and events space. Applicants for this category must have held a local event or provide an attraction that enhances the profile, awareness or appeal of the destination, created an economic impact, increased visitation and/or had local community involvement.

Young Achiever Award

This award focuses on young people making waves in our business community. Applicants for this category must be aged from 16 to 35 and can come from any industry sector and working or operating at any level of business including trainees and apprentices.

** Eligible businesses can apply for this award category in addition to their specific category.

*** Applicants for this category must meet the age criteria as at Friday 15 March 2024.

Champion of social, environmental or sustainability principles

For organisations where a positive social impact is at the core of their purpose. They are applying innovative solutions to address social or environmental issues and better the community we live in. Open to not-for-profit, social enterprise and profit-for-purpose organisations operating in the Macedon Ranges.

Designed to recognise businesses that demonstrate leadership and commitment to sustainable business practices. Applicants should have a commitment to sustainable products and practices, support other businesses or consumers through the sale of sustainable products, have developed innovative methods integrated into their business that allow them to limit their own or others impact on the environment, remain competitive and guarantee their viability. Examples include businesses that sell or have integrated sustainable products, projects, programs, systems and technologies that minimise their environmental impact.

** Eligible businesses can apply for this award category in addition to their specific category.

Business Resilience and Adaptability

This award recognises the ability of a business to adapt and overcome challenging circumstances. Applicants for this category can come from any industry.

People's Choice Award

Following the judging process, all finalists will automatically be eligible for the People’s Choice Award with a focus on excellence in customer service. This award requires a public voting process.

Business of the Year

This award recognises a business that has achieved outstanding results, business performance and management and demonstrates all- round excellence in business. To be eligible for this award, businesses need to be a finalist in an award category.

Meet our sponsors

Naming Sponsor - Josh's Rainbow Eggs

Josh's Rainbow Eggs logo

 

We are delighted to have Josh's Rainbow Eggs back on board as the naming sponsor for 2024. Having won three categories in the 2019 awards and they came on board as naming rights sponsors in 2021 and continued in this role to support and encourage other businesses.

Gold sponsor - Bendigo Bank

Bendigo Bank sponsor logo

 

The Bendigo Bank branches in the Macedon Ranges are delighted to sponsor the business awards for a seventh year, to support and celebrate local businesses. With four locations in the shire, they see every day how important local businesses are to the fabric and success of our communities.

These branches all offer the full range of Bendigo Bank products, competitive rates and local staff who care about your financial success, plus an important point of difference – they invest in the local communities in which they operate. To date, they have given back $5 million to support clubs, projects, events and schools in the Macedon Ranges to help our communities thrive.

So, for great service and banking you can feel good about, bank with your local branch

Silver Sponsor - Workspace Australia 

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Workspace Australia Ltd  is the largest business incubator provider in Australia.  Established in 1998 it has grown to encompass 6 incubator sites across regional Victoria. 

Setting the benchmark for assisting start-up businesses in becoming commercially viable it has achieved a level of success which is unmatched within the industry.  In a time when 40% of businesses are successful after the first three years of operation, Workspace has been able to achieve a success rate of 98% over the last seven years . 

Voted Australia’s Business Incubator of the Year in 2010 and a finalist in the International Incubator of the Year awards in 2011, Workspace has become the leader in establishing best practices within the industry.  

This non-profit organisation, governed by a Volunteer Board of Directors has been voted one of the top 10 incubators in the world and was awarded Bendigo’s Business Excellence Social Enterprise of the Year in 2016.

Silver sponsor - Kennedys Accountants

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Kennedys Accountants offers local personalised convenience for businesses and individuals with the expertise of the ‘big smoke accountants’. Sharing tools and knowledge to help you to get the most out of your business and individual tax returns.

The team has real life business experience as well as tax knowledge . Kennedys Accountants assists businesses in a number of industries including health, hospitality, manufacturing, legal firms, civil construction, online clothing, trades, transport, equine, primary production and more. These businesses vary from small sole traders to businesses with multi million dollar turnovers.

As well as tax planning to keep tax to a legal minimum they also understand the importance of business structure and other areas such as cash flow, budgets, profitability, banks finance, HR issues and marketing.

The team aims to achieve the best outcomes to help businesses thrive and keep tax to a minimum.

Silver sponsor - Macedon Ranges Glass

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Macedon Ranges Glass, is a leading glass supplier in the Macedon Ranges region, which stands as a testament to decades of dedication and expertise. Established in 1970, the business, now led by owner Brett Vernon, has evolved into the largest accredited glass supplier in the area. The team, comprised of 13 skilled members, excels in various services, from swift glass replacements to retrofit double glazing and custom-made glass installations.

Brett's journey with Macedon Ranges Glass started as a glazing apprentice, inspired by his father Terry's work ethic. The business, now in its third
generation with Brett's sons Jarryd and Riley on board, continues to thrive.

With a second facility in Kyneton and an extensive portfolio including prestigious projects like the MCG redevelopment for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne Airport, Melbourne Central and the Royal Children’s Hospital, Macedon Ranges Glass remains committed to excellence.

While focusing on high-end residential projects and specialising in retrofit double glazing, they also ensure continued support for the local community's day-to-day glazing needs. As they enter their third generation, the Vernon family looks forward to another 50 years of service in the Macedon Ranges.

Media sponsor - Midland Express

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The Midland Express is a free weekly newspaper circulating in the Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander regions of Victoria, Australia. The paper has a circulation of over 22,000 every week. The paper's office remains at its original location in the town of Kyneton, it is published weekly on a Tuesday and has been since its inception in 1979.

Check out the winners in 2022

Business of the Year Award

Kyneton Dry Stone Walling Centre

People’s Choice Award

Pearce Electricians

Champion of Social, Environmental or Sustainability Principles

Millett Road Maker

COVID-19 Business Adaptability

Fox in the Chamber

Excellence in Agribusiness and Food Manufacturing

Animus Distillery

Excellence in Health, Wellness and Care

Gisborne Family Dental

Excellence in Manufacturing, Trades, Retail and Innovation

Kyneton Dry Stone Walling Centre

Excellence in Professional Services

KGMG Creative

Excellence in Tourism and Visitor Experience

Braeside Mt Macedon Country Retreat

Small and Thriving

Ramai Skin and Body Care Specialist

Young and Professional

Ramai Skin and Body Care Specialist

Stay up-to-date

If you would like to be notified of any updates or developments regarding the awards, forward your details to businessawards@mrsc.vic.gov.au or call 0429 932 191.