Business Hunter presents

Hunter Business Awards

The iconic Hunter Business Awards seek to highlight the important contributions businesses make to the local, national and global business communities. Held annually for more than 40 years, the program is known for celebrating the achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of our region's most inspiring organisations and individuals.

Key Dates

The 2021 Hunter Business Awards ceremony will be held on Friday 22 October at a gala dinner event at NEX in Newcastle. Tickets will go on sale for the Awards ceremony closer to the day.

2021 Categories

Proudly sponsored by CPA Australia

The Business Leader of the Year award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 36 or over who demonstrates outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas, whilst providing leadership to the new generation. As part of the application, entrants will be asked to provide a brief outline of their role, key challenges that have required leadership on the individuals behalf, and an overview of your five-year goals and strategies.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Quarry Mining

The Kristen Keegan Young Business Leader award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 35 or under who demonstrates outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas. As part of the application, entrants will be asked to provide a brief outline of their role, key challenges that have required leadership on the individuals behalf, and an overview of your five-year goals and strategies.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Port Authority of NSW

The Contribution to the Region award recognises an organisation that has made a significant contribution to the ongoing prosperity and growth of the Hunter Region outside its core business activity. Entrants will be asked to provide evidence of how this contribution has benefited people and/or organisations outside the core business activities of their client/customer base.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Newcastle Permanent

The President’s Award is selected by the Hunter Business Chamber President and recognises an organisation or individual that has added substantial value to business efforts in the Hunter Region.

Proudly presented by Business Hunter

The Outstanding Employee Award recognises an inspirational employee who has demonstrated a passion for their role and a commitment to their workplace and community. This award can either be completed by self-nomination, or an employer can nominate an employee. In the case where an employer nominates an employee, question three is not mandatory to complete. To be eligible to enter this category, the individual must have been employed by their current employer for a minimum of 18 months.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by AGL

The Outstanding Local Chamber Award recognises the achievements of a Local Chamber of Commerce in supporting its members to maximise their business potential through advocacy, education and promotion. To be eligible to enter this category, Local Chambers must be a part of the Business NSW Chamber Local Chamber Alliance program.

2021 Finalists

Proudly presented by Business Hunter

The Outstanding Community Enterprise Award recognises an organisation that works to improve the social, cultural or environmental wellbeing of the community. Applicants will be required to explain the social purpose of your organisation, showcase the key features of your business development strategy, and outline how your organisation has managed challenges faced within the last 12-months.

2021 Finalists

Proudly presented by Business Hunter

The Employer of Choice Award recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create stimulating and supportive workplace environments to maximise the full potential of their workforce. Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key areas of employee recruitment, engagement and retention. Category criteria is based on initiatives that have had a positive impact on both the workforce and business.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Port of Newcastle

The Excellence in Export Award recognises a business that exports its products or services internationally and are building a strong reputation for Australian products and services in international markets. As part of the application, entrants will be asked to outline your measurable export success over the past 12 months, provide an overview of your international marketing strategy, and provide your export earnings as a proportion of total sales revenue.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Whiteley

The Excellence in Innovation & Adaptability Award recognises a business that has made significant contributions to their industry or implemented innovative solutions for new and existing business needs through the introduction or improvement of an idea, method, technology, process or application. As part of the application, businesses will need to outline the innovation implemented, and why the innovation is unique within your industry and how it differentiates your business from its competitors.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Umwelt

The Excellence in Sustainability Award recognises a business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices and is working to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment. Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of environmental sustainability. Category criteria is based on initiatives and projects executed within the business not related to its core offering.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Glencore

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. 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 continuous period of two years or more.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by our official media partner, Newcastle Herald

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. 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 continuous period of two years or more.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by NSW Mining

The Excellence in 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. 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 continuous period of two years or more.

2021 Finalists

Proudly presented by Business Hunter

The Start Up Superstar Award recognises a start-up business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the potential to achieve future success. Entrants are required to demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to being an outstanding start-up, and describe why your product or service offering is unique within your industry and differentiates your business from competitors. This category is open to new businesses trading for a period less than 24 months.

2021 Finalists

Proudly sponsored by Hunter Water

The Love Water Love Business Award (Hunter Water Savers) is an initiative between Business Hunter and Hunter Water. Entrants for this award are Business Hunter members that have undergone water audits and as a result employed water efficiency retrofits. The business that has saved the largest amount of water will be announced as the winner.

Entries for this award should be made directly to Hunter Water, for more information please contact Alicia Nash on 0408 919 676.