Below is an overview of the categories for the 2009 Integral Energy Illawarra Business Awards and their relevant entry form. Please fill in the entry form & send it to the IBC before 5pm on Monday, 7th September 2009.

Industry Categories

PLEASE NOTE:: All entrants, excluding Business Person of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year, must enter at least one of the following Industry Categories to be eligible for prestigious Illawarra Business of the Year Award:

Building and Construction: This category relates to businesses engaged in the construction and building industry, including pre-erection, and on-site assembly stages, roads, railroads, aerodromes, irrigation projects, or other civil engineering projects.

Tourism and Hospitality: This category is open to providers of tourism, entertainment, commercial tourist accommodation, and hospitality services. Businesses eligible to enter include providers of general tourism/recreational facilities and attractions, licensed clubs, hotels, motels, caravan and camping parks, B&B operators, conference and catering operators, restaurants and cafes.

Community Sector: This category is open to those organisations that provide services to support communities and include a wide range of community, voluntary and not-for-profit activities, such as hospitals, community services and providers of primary, secondary and tertiary education.

Information Communication and Technology: This category is for businesses which are primarily involved in the development and/or dissemination of information technology and/or telecommunications, including software development, internet services, and network design and development.

Manufacturing, Wholesale and Mining: This category is open to businesses engaged in the procurement, development and production of raw materials into finished goods, involving mechanical, electrical and fabrication technology, mining and engineering operations - and a wide range of businesses involved in the wholesale commercialisation of their own product(s).

Retail and Personal Services: This category applies to all retail businesses ranging from smaller sole trader operations to large department stores, motor vehicle operations and sales, and a wide range of health, fitness, beauty and personal services, including allied health providers.

Property and Finance: This category applies to those businesses involved the real estate and financial services sector, including real estate agents, banks, building societies, credit unions, financial advisors, accountants, conveyancing services, and mortgage advisors.

Professional and Commercial: This category is open to providers of specialist medical services, legal services, consultants, business and personal development services, business to business services, accredited training, plus architects, draughtspeople, interior designers, surveyors, and marketing/advertising agencies.

Non Industry Categories

PLEASE NOTE: In order to be considered eligible for the "Integral Energy Illawarra Business of the Year", applicants must also have entered an `Industry' Category.

Home Based Business: This category is open to all businesses owners who are operating from their home, and are employing five or less employees.

OR (applicants may choose to enter only one of these two categories)

Small Business: This category is designed to encourage and recognise the valuable contribution that small businesses, including partnerships and sole traders, make to our region. Entries are limited to business that employ 10 or less full-time employees.

New Illawarra Business: This category recognises a new `fledgling' business that has been operating for less than two years - and is open to entrants from all industries. Businesses that have had a complete change in ownership and a proven new direction in operations within this timeframe will also be eligible.

Sustainability: Awarded to the business that has addressed ways to remain viable, whilst contributing lasting benefits to society through the consideration of social, environmental, ethical and economic aspects.

Workplace Safety and OH&S: Awarded to the business that demonstrates a commitment to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment that is enshrined in everything they do, both at work and in the community in which they operate.

Export: Awarded to the business proven to deliver the best performance in export activity over the past 12 months, including businesses exporting from the region, and those providing assistance and/or services to the Illawarra export industry. Judges will consider innovative strategies towards marketing, sustainable export growth, plus evidence of competitive advantage, and the overall commitment to international business.

Innovation: Awarded to the business that has excelled in implementing new processes, or improving on old ones; creating a new market or new products; and/or demonstrating an innovative approach to developing or marketing their business.

Customer Service: Awarded to the business that has proven to provide consistent exceptional service and professionalism. Judges will consider how the business has measured, managed and monitored customer expectations, satisfaction and retention.

Barry Smith Award: Awarded to the business that is deemed to have best promoted the image and attractions of the region, through efforts outside of their core business operations.

Business Person Categories

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants can choose to enter only one of the following two awards. You will need to submit a separate entry for these categories (see Assessment Criteria - Business Person Categories)

Business Person of the Year: Awarded to one individual who most successfully displays outstanding leadership and management attributes within their business, whether in a supervisory, managerial or proprietary role. Additionally judges will be looking at entrant's previous 12 months significant achievements in personal and business growth, community involvement, and work/life balance.

OR

Young Business Person of the Year: Awarded to an individual who has enjoyed substantial growth in their career and has achieved significant personal and business outcomes within the past 12 months. To be eligible, this person would need to be under 35 years of age and have been in business for at least 12 months.

Illawarra Business of the Year:

Selected from the Industry Categories and awarded to the business judged be the most outstanding Illawarra based business, across all criteria.