The finalists for the 2024 Bega Valley Business Awards have been announced and with over 1600 nominations, across the 18 categories, this represents an increase of 75% on last years nominations. Congratulations to all the Bega Valley businesses, organisations and individuals who were nominated.
This year we have 19 finalists from Bega, 11 from Pambula, 7 from Eden & Merimbula, 5 from Cobargo, 4 from Tathra as well as finalists from Bemboka, Bermagui and even Buckajo.
Although the number of nominations was only one factor in the judging process, categories, like Hospitality, received 360 nominations for 60 different businesses and Retail receiving 186 nominations for 60 businesses.
Bega Valley Business Forum president, Nigel Ayling, said; “We were really impressed with the response this year. It was great to see so many nominations and a lot of businesses being nominated for the first time. This year we introduced some refined criteria for the judging including giving extra weight to some smaller locations and capping the impact of the number of nominations. It is definitely not a popularity contest where the business with the most nominations wins. It was hard work narrowing some categories down to just 3 finalists, so the ones that have made it this far, really deserve to be there. “
The full list of finalists are;
- Excellence in Innovation and Sustainability
- Sapphire Coast Buslines
- Grow The Future
- Tarthra Eco Camp
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
- Cheryl’s personal Services
- Tulgeen Disability Services
- Workability
- Outstanding Community Organisation
- Eden Community Access Centre
- Sapphire Community Pantry
- Sapphire Life Opportunities
- Excellence in Construction, Trades and Services
- Ardy’s Automotive Services
- Eastman Electrical
- Pambula Tiles and Bathware
- Excellence in Retail
- Darcie Nicol Floral Design
- Independent Living Specialists
- Swannies Clothing Co
- Excellence in Health, Beauty and Wellness
- In2skin Cosmedic Clinic & Salon
- Lisa Jane Skin and Beauty
- Tathra Beach Personal Training Studio
- Excellence in Professional Services
- CBA Merimbula
- Coastal Cleanliness
- WMD Law
- Excellence in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
- Bega Motorcycles
- Buckajo Flowers
- Southern Farm Supplies
- Excellence in Hospitality
- Cobargo Hotel
- Toast Cafe Pambula
- Wild Orchid
- Outstanding Visitor Experience (Tourism)
- Great Southern Trike Tours
- Tathra Beach Eco Camp
- Yandama On Country
- Employer of Choice
- Bendigo Bank – Pambula
- Florabel
- Eastman Electrical
- Excellence in Micro Business
- Eastwood’s of Bermagui
- Food Matters Catering
- Tomi’s Bobcat and Excavation
- Excellence in Small Business
- Envision Education
- Sapphire Coast Kitchens
- Sapphire Conveyancing
- Excellence in Large Business
- IRT Home Services
- Support Services 2 You
- Tulgeen Disability Services
- Outstanding Male Employee
- Scott Schuck – Toast Pambula
- Luke Keft – Coles Bega
- Patrick Elliott – Cobargo Hotel
- Outstanding Female Employee
- Geneviev Mussell – Power FM
- Morgan Cruickshank – Pambula Tiles
- Tayla Wilson – Tulgeen Disability Services
- Outstanding Business Leader
- Ben Bayliss – Longstocking Brewery
- Danielle Geekie – Sapphire Conveyancing
- Sheri McEvoy – Florabel
- Outstanding Young Business Leader/Employee
- Lillian Britton – Cobargo Hotel\
- Kayne Thomas Woods – Seahorse Inn
- Blake Mylan – Waterfront Restaurant
Voting is now open to the public to vote for their favourite finalists. Voting is limited to 1 vote per person, however you can vote for all of the categories, or just the ones you want. The votes will be added to the score along with other judging criteria to come up with the winners. Click here to vote.
The awards night is on Saturday 27 July at Club Sapphire and it will be a black tie event. Tickets will go on sale from 24 June. Initially ticket sales will be limited to finalists with each business being able to purchase up to 4 tickets. After that any remaining tickets will go on sale.
