The first round of judging has been completed and the Sunshine Coast Business Awards are excited to announce the finalists for the 2022 Awards.
There are 143 finalists across 17 industry categories.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said this year’s entries were again of a very high calibre, with all entrants doing a lot of work putting their entries together.
“I would like to congratulate this year’s finalists and also thank everyone who entered,” Mrs Swaine said.
With just one month until entries close, the 2022 Sunshine Coast Business are set to be another great celebration of business achievements across the region.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said everyone was really excited this year, with over 150 businesses having already started their applications in the Awards online entry system.
Mrs Swaine said there is some work involved in preparing entries, it was a rewarding process because it allows for reflection that is often overlooked in the day-to-day of business operation.
“Our past winners and finalists all tell us the process of preparing their entries has improved their businesses because it is a chance to review what they have done, see how far they have come, and also identify new opportunities.”
Need some award-winning secrets for your business? Well, they are on offer at the 2022 Sunshine Coast Business Awards information sessions which will be held across the region starting on Wednesday 15th June.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said the Awards application process was rigorous, so each year they offered information sessions where attendees could pick the brains of past winners and get advice from experts.
“Past entrants are always telling us the benefits the application process helped improve their businesses, giving them an opportunity to take a more holistic look at their operations, rather than being stuck in the every-day functional work,” Mrs Swaine said.
Entries for the 2022 Sunshine Coast Business Awards, powered by LPE, will open today after the official launch at the Sunshine Coast Small Business Month Breakfast.
SC Chamber Alliance SCBA Awards Launch Breakfast
More than 260 people will attend the sold-out celebration of Coast businesses after an incredibly tough business environment over the past two years that has included fire, floods and Covid.
The Breakfast will see Sunshine Coast businesspeople hear from three of the 2021 Awards winners as part of a panel offering insights into what winning the Awards has meant for their business and how businesses can set themselves up for success with their entries. The panel will include John Langmead from Advanced Aquarium Technologies which took out Building and Construction Large, Export and Business of the Year, Deb Caruso from In Publishing which won Creative Industries Large, and Sonia Martin from Sunny Street which won Health and Wellness Large.
Retired District Court Judge and current chair of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, John Robertson will be the guest speaker at a very special Buderim Foundation Breakfast on Wednesday 11th May.
Mr Robertson will be presenting “Sentencing Children – Myths and Remedies” at the breakfast, which will raise money for the Buderim Foundation’s investment fund. Earnings from the fund are given out in annual grants to organisations supporting the local community.
Buderim Foundation chair Dr Russell Stitz said Mr Robertson’s presentation was sure to be of interest to the local community and expected a lively question and answer session.
“At the Buderim Foundation we want to support the community and part of that is giving people the opportunity to consider important issues like youth justice, and to hear from experts like Mr Robertson, who bring a non-political, evidence-based approach to the issue,” Dr Stitz said.
Sunshine Mitre 10 will next year build a new store in North Lakes to service the strong and increasing demand from the building and trade sector in the area.
Plans for the store at Stapylton St have been approved by Moreton Bay Council and construction is expected to commence early in the new year.
Sunshine Mitre 10 General Manager, Neil Hutchins said the new store would complement other stores in the Mitre 10 network in the South East Queensland region.
The Sunshine Coast Business of the Year 2021 winner is Advanced Aquarium Technologies, which was announced along with 29 other Category Winners, and two Hall of Fame recipients at the Gala event of the year on Saturday 13th November.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said the celebration attended by more than 850 of the Coast’s business community was very special and showcased world-class local talent both in terms of business and entertainment.
Hosted by 7 Sunshine Coast’s Rob Brough, the evening kicked off with a performance by Cirque Bon Bon, followed by a moving digeridoo solo by Chris Williams, with a performance later in the night from Burlesque L’Amour and music from Amplify.
“We are super excited to have secured these performers who call the Sunshine Coast home, but whom pre-Covid-19 would be wowing audiences around the world,” Mrs Swaine said.
Overall, there were 29 category winners including large and small businesses announced across 16 categories, two Hall of Fame inductees as well as the overall business of the year.
The first round of judging has been completed and the Sunshine Coast Business Awards are excited to announce the finalists for the 2021 Awards.
There are 131 finalists across 16 industry categories.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said this year’s entries were of a very high calibre, with all entrants doing a lot of work putting their entries together.
“I would like to congratulate this year’s finalists and also thank everyone who entered,” Mrs Swaine said.
“Past entrants and finalists have told us they found the entry process worthwhile so we hope everyone will use what they learnt about their businesses during the application process to advance them.”
Mrs Swaine said now the finalists would enter the next stage of the judging process with interviews taking place over the coming weeks.
“In addition to the interviews, Finalists will also have the opportunity to participate in the Master Class to assist them to make the most of being a finalist.
Entrant
s to the 2021 Sunshine Coast Business Awards will have an extra three days to put the finishing touches on their applications, with the deadline for entries extended to Monday 30th August at 5pm.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said entries were starting to flow in ahead of the deadline, but many businesspeople had requested the weekend so they could finalise their entries.
“With Covid restrictions affecting many of our entrants, some asked if they could have a little extra time so they could ensure their applications were the best they could be, so we have extended the deadline to accommodate this,” Mrs Swaine said.
Thousands turned out to celebrate the grand opening of the new flagship Sunshine Mitre 10 store, in the same town where the company’s 110-year history began, on Saturday. 
Sunshine Mitre 10 general manager Neil Hutchins said it was very satisfying to see the community turn out for the opening of the new 13,000 square metre site opening.
“It really was a great day with everyone coming to check out the new store, grab some bargains and also enjoy the fun including face painting, a balloon artist for the kids, a sausage sizzle, coffee, Boost Juice and more.”
Employing 40 staff, the new site at 980 Nambour Connection Road, includes 4,000 square metres under-roof and is one of the largest in the Sunshine Mitre 10 network, with extensive retail product and trade supply through their well-managed trade drive-through experience.
“This new flagship store includes all the latest brands and products and showcase the best hardware product available. The site has everything you need to get in, get out, and get on with it and the entire project has been meticulously designed to provide the customer with the ultimate hardware shopping experience,” Mr Hutchins said.
