The best and brightest businesses in the Blue Mountains were hailed on Friday October 20 and now 10 winners will go on to represent the region at the state awards next month.
Rubyfruit Vegan Cafe and Bakery from Leura took out the Excellence in Sustainability Award and were also inducted into the Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber Hall of Fame for winning the same award for three consecutive years.
Owners Amanda Solomons and Simone Bateman said the win was “overwhelming”.They also took out the coveted Harry Hammon Regional Business of the Year Award and were presented with a weekend at the Hydro Majestic Hotel donated by The Escarpment Group.
Ms Solomons said the pair felt “very blessed … it’s always been a little pipe dream … we never expected it to come for fruition. We were genuinely blown away and we are so grateful”. Each year they had worked hard to reduce their carbon footprint – reducing plastics, recycling, “anything we can”, she added.
Partner Simone Bateman said the duo “have always worn our hearts on our sleeves” and had been campaigning strongly in the marriage equality debate with posters all over the cafe.
“The vote has been unnecessarily damaging … but we’ve been on a high all weekend. It’s wonderfully life affirming for us after a challenging year.”
The awards have been celebrating business excellence for 11 years. More than 250 guests celebrated the gala event and notable Australian actor and local Tiriel Mora, of The Castle fame, kept the audience entertained as MC, revealing the winners of the 25 awards. He was assisted by Diva Transformations’ Helen Sweeney.
Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber president Peita Davies said it “was such a pleasure to host over 90 Blue Mountains businesses celebrating small business success at the Fairmont Resort in Leura”.
“Small business owners, their employees and customers were anxiously awaiting the results of the Blue Mountains Business Awards demonstrating a supportive engaged, vibrant and resilient small business community,” Ms Davies added.
Other business winners included Ask Roz who took out the Excellence in Innovation award for the third consecutive year. Ask Roz was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Ms Davies and Mayor Mark Greenhill.
The Blaxland and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry won Local Chamber of the Year presented by Stacey Randell from the NSW Business Chamber. The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by www.BlueMountainsAustralia.com, was won by Glen Isla Luxury Blue Mountains Accommodation.
There were two inaugural awards: the Excellence in Social Enterprise Award won by Cancer Wellness Support and the Home Based Business Award won by Illuminart. Woodford Homes took out three awards and Mountains Whispers The MW Collection got two gongs.
The NSW Business Awards will be held in Sydney on November 17.
Major sponsors of the Blue Mountains event included: Scenic World, Blue Mountains City Council, Nova Employment, Blue Eco Homes, Belle Property Leura and Australia Post. The Blue Mountains Gazette was the event’s media partner.
The full list of winners follows. The first ten winners will also represent the Mountains at the NSW Business Awards.
Young Business Executive
Bree Curnuck, Eagle View Estate
Young Entrepreneur
Dean Edmonds, E-Smart Solar
Business Leader
Lyn Smith, Woodford Homes
Excellence in Small Business (20 employees or less)
Mountain Whispers, The MW Collection
Excellence in Business (20 employees or more)
Woodford Homes
Excellence in Social Enterprise
Cancer Wellness Support
Start Up Superstar
Just Pressed, Blue Mountains Love
Excellence in Innovation
Ask Roz
Excellence in Sustainability
Rubyfruit
Employer of Choice
Richards Financial Services
Blue Mountains regional winners:
Retail Business
Beaut-T-Ful Bags
Customer Service
Mountain Whispers, The MW Collection
Hospitality Business
Bygone Beautys
Creative Services
Wild Valley Art Park
Business Services
Woodford Homes
Home Based Business
Illuminart
Excellence in Accommodation
Blue Mountains YHA
Boutique Accommodation
Shelton-Lea B&B
Tour/Transport Operator Excellence
Bygone Beautys
Employee Inclusion
Mount Victoria Manor
People’s Choice
Glen Isla, Luxury Blue Mountains Accommodation
Highly Commended awards:
Start Up Superstar Award
The Stray Whisker
Highly Commended Customer Service
Eagle View Escape
Highly Commended Home Based Business
Conveyancing Smart
Hall of Fame Excellence in Sustainability
Rubyfruit
Hall of Fame Excellence in Innovation
Ask Roz
Harry Hammon Award for Regional Business of Year
Rubyfruit
