Telstra Business Awards 2014: nominations open

AUSTRALIANS are being encouraged to help recognise hardworking small and medium businesses by nominating them in the Telstra Business Awards.

Telstra Business Awards

FARMERS to cheesemakers to motorbike enthusiasts are among those to take out the top honours in the prestigious Telstra Business Awards.

Australians are being encouraged to help recognise more hardworking and passionate business people by nominating them for the 2014 awards, which have now opened so their brilliant work can be recognised.

People can nominate any type of successful small and medium business for the awards, which are heading into their 21st year.

Stephen Welsh, managing director of Shimo Wasabi, says his business has thrived since taking out a Telstra Business Award.

Up to 6000 nominations are submitted each year across all states and territories and Telstra Business's group managing director, Will Irving, encourages smaller and medium businesses to enter.

"You get entrants from hi-tech businesses through to simple retail operations to people in farming and mining support services, food and medicine,'' he said.

"It's the quality of the people who are behind the businesses that is what really sets them apart.

"What they choose to do is amazingly varied.

"For most of the entrants it's a particular passion they have."

Businesses can self nominate or be nominated by someone else who may include a family member, friend or customer.

Shima Wasabi produced and sells prized Japanese vegetables and wasabi to leading Australian restaurants and won the Tasmanian Telstra Micro Business Award in 2012.

Managing director Stephen Welsh said since winning the prestigious award his business had continued to thrive.

"In September we launched Australia's first pure wasabi powder for home use and it has been incredibly successful,'' he said.

"Sales of the product in the first six weeks alone exceeded our target for the first six months."

Elizabeth Gunner, the co-owner of Richard Gunner's Fine Meats in Mt Barker, which was nominated in the 2013 awards.

This year's awards include five categories - start-up, micro business, small business, medium business and regional.

The Council of Small Business Australia's executive director, Peter Strong, said businesses that have previously won a Telstra Business Award had always been "thrilled" for being recognised for their hard work.

"You can see it's a really big event in their lives so if you are running a business and you are really pleased with how you are running it then enter,'' he said.

"It's about you and what you have done and if you're proud of something you have done then I would say enter."

Nominations can be made by visiting www.telstrabusinessawards.com or by calling 1800 AWARDS.

Entries can be submitted from February 3 through until March 31.