Terms & conditions

It is important that you read the complete terms and conditions before submitting your entry. The terms and conditions are also stated in the Award Entry Information Pack. By entering, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions and acknowledging that you have read them.

  1. How to enter

1.1. To enter the Shoalhaven Business Awards all applicants must read and understand the terms and conditions and complete the entry form for your chosen category/categories.

1.2. By lodging your submission, you agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions of entry.

1.3. Entry into the Shoalhaven Business Awards is via the Awards entry portal, located here – URL is http://www.businessannualawards.com.au/login.aspx?chamber=shoalhaven

1.4. Your entry must be submitted by 5.00pm AEST, 1 July 2019.

1.5. Shoalhaven Business Chamber reserves the right to extend or vary the entry period if required, before or after the award entry period commences.

  1. Eligibility to enter

2.1. All businesses must have been in operation for at least two years as at the opening date for entries, 17 May, 2017 (excludes ‘Start Up Superstar’ category).

2.2 Eligible businesses include Australian registered businesses, companies or organisations. This includes partnerships, franchises, community organisations, registered charities, commonwealth & state government departments, agencies and local government bodies.

2.3 Businesses must have commenced or have a significant local presence in the Shoalhaven as defined by the Local Government Area.

2.4 Members of the Judging Panel (or their businesses) are not eligible to enter the 2017 Shoalhaven Business Awards.

2.5 Winners from aligned categories in the 2017 Illawarra Business Awards program cannot enter the same category in the subsequent year (2018) that they won. For example, if you won Excellence in Small Business at the 2017 Shoalhaven Awards, and went on to Illawarra, but did not win, you may enter Excellence in Small Business in 2018 in the Shoalhaven.
2.6. Winners from the 2017 Illawarra Awards are free to enter any other category in 2019, other than the category they won in 2017.

2.7 You don’t need to be a Shoalhaven Business Chamber member to enter.

 

  1. Conditions of entry

3.1. Entrants must be willing to participate in Awards related publicity organised by the Shoalhaven Business Chamber and agree to be contacted by all media sponsors before and after entry to the Awards and the event.

3.2. Entrants can only win a specific category three times. The winning business/organisation will enter the chamber’s ‘Hall of Fame’ and be listed on the honour board in the chamber office.

3.3. By entering, you agree to be interviewed by the Shoalhaven Business Chamber, in the event that you win an Award. Every Award winner will be interviewed to garner content for a 2019 Shoalhaven Business Awards ebook.

3.4 By entering the Awards, and by answering the ‘Inclusion’  question in each category, you understand you are also entering the Excellence in Inclusion  Award. This excludes the Business Leader, Young Business Executive, Young Entrepreneur and Start Up Superstar categories.

3.5 By entering the Awards, and by answering the ‘Social Responsibility’ question in each category, you understand you are also entering the Excellence in Social Responsibility Award. This excludes the Business Leader  and Start Up Superstar categories.

3.6 The Inclusion and Social Responsibility questions are optional.

  1. Confidentiality

4.1. All information provided in the entry form will be used for the purpose of judging only and will be treated as commercial-in-confidence by Shoalhaven Business Chamber.

4.2. If you are selected as a finalist, the information provided in the entry will be used for the purpose of promoting the Awards and your business.

  1. Judging Panel

5.1. Applications will be assessed by independent expert Judging Panels made up of senior industry figures and members of the professions, together with a range of other key distinguished stakeholders.

5.2. There will be a separate Judging Panel comprising 2 judges for each Award Category.

5.3. The entire judging process will be overseen by independent auditors.

5.4. The Judging Panels will conduct interviews with all Finalists (to be selected by the Judges) and may undertake site visits to some entrants (if appropriate). Should your business be selected as a finalist, the interview will take place at an independent venue or on site at the discretion of the Judges.

5.5. The Judging Panels reserve the right not to issue an Award in a given category.

5.6. Both the written application and the interview will be scored and form part of the final decision.

5.7. The judges’ decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into.

  1. Awards

6.1. The Awards comprise of the following categories:

  • Outstanding Business Leader
  • Outstanding Young Entrepreneur
  • Outstanding Young Employee
  • Excellence in Business (20 or more FTE)
  • Outstanding Employer of Choice
  • Excellence in Innovation
  • Excellence in Small Business (less than 5-20 FTE)
  • Excellence in Sustainability
  • Excellence in Retail & Personal Services*
  • Excellence in Micro Business (less than 5 FTE)
  • Excellence in Community Service (not for profit)*
  • Start up Superstar
  • Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality*
  • Employee of the Year #
  • Excellence in Social Enterprise^
  • Business of The Year* ^
  • Excellence in Workplace Safety*
  • Excellence in Community Services*
  • Excellence in Professional & Commercial*

6.1.1 *Shoalhaven specific Awards, do not progress to Illawarra and NSW Business Chamber Business Awards.

6.1.2 ^ Award categories that cannot be directly entered. The finalists for these awards will be selected by the judges.

6.1.3 # This category is employer nominated and is open to all organisations, both profit and not-for-profit and who have at least one employee who is not a director, owner or part owner of the organisation. Employers may nominate up to three of their employees in this category. Employees must be a direct employee of the employer’s organisation and must have been employed for 12 months or more as at 30 May, 2019.

6.2. Aligned category winners will automatically enter the Illawarra Business Chamber Awards as a Regional Category Finalist.

6.3 If you wish to go on to be a Regional Finalist at the Illawarra Business Chamber Business Awards, you will be required to be become a NSW Business Chamber Member as per the terms and conditions set by the Illawarra Business Chamber.

6.4 The maximum number of business categories you can enter is three. Business categories include Excellence in Small Business, Excellence in Business, Start Up Superstar, Excellence in Innovation,  Excellence in Sustainability, Employer of Choice, Excellence in Community Service (not for profit), Excellence in Professional & Commercial, Outstanding Home Based Business, Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality, Excellence in Retail & Personal Services, Excellence in Production.

6.5 An organisation may enter more than one individual category, however any one individual may only enter one individual category. Individual categories are Business Leader, Young Entrepreneur, Young Business Executive and Employee of the Year.

6.6 To be eligible for Business of the Year, a business must win an aligned category.

  1. Announcing the finalists and winners

7.1. Finalists will be notified by phone and email, and published on the Shoalhaven Business Chamber website

7.2. Winners will not be notified prior to the Awards Gala Dinner to be held on Friday, 23rd August

7.3. Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner

  1. Disclaimer

8.1. The Shoalhaven Business Chamber accepts no liability regarding loss of patent or commercial returns arising from participation in the 2019 Shoalhaven Business Awards application process.

8.2. Applicants are strongly advised to secure adequate protection for their intellectual property rights.

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Members of the Shoalhaven Business Chamber get access to a large number of benefits.