NAMED: The 44 finalists in this year’s Focus HR Excellence in Business Awards

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, it’s still going to be the Toowoomba business community’s night of nights. Check out the full list of finalists here.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the finalists of the Focus HR Business Excellence Awards 2020.

After a tough year for business, the Focus HR Business Excellence Awards will shine a light on resilience and innovation while also celebrating the business community’s contribution to the region.

Chamber CEO Todd Rohl said the awards would still be the business community’s night of nights – but reimagined for COVID-19.

“The awards ceremony will be held at the Empire Theatre under strict COVID-19 safety guidelines and it will be followed by a number of ‘after parties’ throughout Toowoomba.

“Chamber decided on several after-party venues – instead of one big venue – in order to support the many small hospitality businesses who were hit especially hard during COVID-19 restrictions,” he said.

Focus HR director Alistair Green, Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl, and Focus HR founding director Naomi Wilson.

Focus HR director Alistair Green said the calibre of the finalists was reflective of the “positivity and optimism in the business community.

“Which is exactly what the business awards is all about,” he said.

Focus HR founding director Naomi Wilson said it was amazing to see the successes of Toowoomba businesses despite the year that was.

The People’s Choice Award sponsored by The Chronicle is still open for voting until midday Friday.

All the winners will be revealed at the Focus HR Business Excellence 2020 Awards Ceremony to be held at the Empire Theatre on Saturday, December 12.

FINALISTS:

1. Tourism – Sponsored by Excavation Equipment

■ Klub VW Darling Downs

■ Rosalie House Cellar Door

2. Hospitality – Sponsored by Fuji Xerox Business Centre

■ Fitzy’s Toowoomba

■ Rosalie House Cellar Door

■ Sweet Talk Coffee

■ The Met Hotel

3. Industry – Sponsored by Russell Mineral Equipment

■ Ability Enterprises

■ E & E Waste

■ Jim’s Jerky

■ Proterra Group

4. Professional Services – Sponsored by TAFE Qld South West

■ Akadia Training

■ Qld Hot Property

■ Shine Lawyers

■ Vigour Graphics

5. Retail – Sponsored byBEST Employment Services

■ Excavation Equipment

■ Hogan’s Family Jewellers

■Recognition Plus

■ Westridge Fruit & Vegetables

6. Community and Not-for-Profit – Sponsored by Toowoomba Regional Council

■ Hope Horizons

■ Protea Place

■ Toowoomba Clubhouse

■ Toowoomba Hospital Foundation

7. Innovation & Technology – Sponsored by Tilly’s Crawler Parts

■ Linniar Group

■ Pro-test Well Services

■ Toowoomba & Darling Downs

■ Vigour Graphics

8. Gerry Doumany Export Award – Sponsored by TSBE

Claytons’ Organic Beef

■ Linniar Group

■ Mort & Co

9. Health & Wellbeing – Sponsored by Bank of Qld

■ Linniar Group

■ Neilson Eyecare

■ Radiance Academy

■ The CAVE Gym

10. Best Regional Business – Sponsored by TRC

■ Mort & Co

■ NRG Services

■ Proterra Group

■ Tilly’s Crawler Parts

11. Employer of Choice – Sponsored by Focus HR

■ Accession 3

■ CatholicCare Services

■ Cropt

■ Power Tynan

12. Future Leader of the Year – Sponsored by CatholicCare Services

■ Shelley Burchett

■ Lauren Janson-Roberts

■ Alex Stalling

■ Nicole Steffens