Central Coast

The Outstanding Employee Award recognises an inspirational employee who has demonstrated a passion for their role and a commitment to their workplace and the community.

Entry criteria

Employers are required to highlight their employees’ commitment over the past 12 months to their workplace, the community, and to being an outstanding employee. To be eligible to enter this category, the employee must have been employed by their current employer for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

Danielle Cairncross, Abled Care and Nursing Services, Tuggerah

Bill Collett, Australian Reptile Park, Somersby

Lauren Turnidge, Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

Lucy Whitmore, Delta Laboratories, Somersby

Sharon Hooper, Iris Lodge Alpacas, Jilliby

Jessica Pulbrook, Making Footprints, Lisarow

The Outstanding Young Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader, aged 35 or under at the time of entry, who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve successful outcomes and drive innovation over the past 18 months. To be eligible for this category, the individual must have held a senior management or executive-level position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

Paige Kohalmont, Austral Herbs, Fountaindale

Melanie Lymbery, Central Coast Group Training, Tuggerah

Naomi Bennett, Evolve Psychology Services, The Entrance

Jennifer Suluka, She Got the Shot, Bateau Bay

The Outstanding Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader, aged 36 years or over at the time of entry, who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership, while also providing mentorship to others.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve successful outcomes and drive innovation over the past 18 months. To be eligible for this category, the individual must have held a senior management or executive-level position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

Craig Giles, AAGilesberg, Hamlyn Terrace

Lyndi Leggett, The Scuba Gym Australia, Woy Woy

Michael Seton, Seton Family Lawyers, Erina

The Outstanding Business Leader Award recognises an inspirational business leader, aged 36 years or over at the time of entry, who has demonstrated a commitment to their workplace, industry, and the community through leadership, while providing mentorship to others.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire people, showcasing exceptional leadership skills, while demonstrating how they have effectively utilised resources to achieve successful outcomes and drive innovation over the past 18 months. To be eligible for this category, the individual must have held a senior management or executive-level position within their organisation for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

Karl Schlothauer, House of Pocket, Terrigal

Isaac Zoaretz, DAYTODAY, Terrigal

Matthew Craig, NeuroKind, Wyong

Paul Barnett, Mingara Leisure Group, Tumbi Umbi

Paul Chapman, Central Coast Sports College, Kariong

The Excellence in International Business Award recognises a business that successfully operates in overseas markets, builds a positive reputation for Australian products and services, and creates opportunities for growth and success.

Entry criteria

Entrants are required to demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key area of export.

2025 Finalists

4id Solutions, Wyong

Foxton Creative, Killcare Heights

Kings of Neon, Tuggerah

The Employer of Choice Award recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key areas of employee recruitment, engagement, and retention. Category criteria are based on initiatives that have had a positive impact on both employees and the business.

2025 Finalists

Austral Herbs, Fountaindale

Central Coast Smash & Big Boss Custom Motorcycles, Gosford

Evolve Psychology Services, The Entrance

Seton Family Lawyers, Erina

The Employer of Choice Award recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months across the key areas of employee recruitment, engagement, and retention. Category criteria are based on initiatives that have had a positive impact on both employees and the business.

2025 Finalists

Abled Care and Nursing Services, Tuggerah

Allcare Nursing & Community Services, Toukley

Gosford RSL Club. Gosford

Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network, Erina

Kooindah Waters Golf & Spa Resort, Wyong

North Construction & Building, Tuggerah

Pacific Link Housing, Gosford

The Excellence in Innovation Award recognises a business that has implemented innovative solutions for new and existing needs through the introduction or improvement of a product, technology, or application that impacts the wider community.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements over the past 12 months at the time of entry across the key area of innovation.

2025 Finalists

Abled Care and Nursing Services, Tuggerah

Rel8.app, Tuggerah

Signarama Tuggerah

The Excellence in Sustainability Award recognises a business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices and is working to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements in environmental sustainability over the past 12 months at time of entry. The category criteria are based on initiatives and projects within the business that are not related to its core offering.

2025 Finalists

Delta Laboratories, Somersby

Iris Lodge Alpacas, Jilliby

Refreshing Pools, Berkeley Vale

Signarama Tuggerah

The Scuba Gym Australia, Woy Woy

TrendPac, Berkeley Vale

The Outstanding Community Organisation Award recognises an organisation that works to improve the social, cultural, or environmental wellbeing of the community.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to being an outstanding community organisation. This category is open to social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations that have been trading for a period of over 24 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

Allcare Nursing & Community Services, Toukley

Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre, Wyoming

Coast & Country Primary Care, Tuggerah

Connect Social AU, Wyong Creek

Fairhaven Op Shopping Village, Point Clare

FunHaus Factory Inc, Gosford

Heartdancers  Arts & Culture, Umina Beach

Making Footprints, Lisarow

Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast,, Toowoon Bay

One by Mingara, Tumbi Umbi

Pacific Link Housing, Gosford

The Art House, Wyong

The Hub Group, The Entrance

Thrive Teach Nurture Grow Inc., Tumbi Umbi

Toukley Neighbourhood Centre, Toukley

The Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award recognises businesses that address the needs of a diverse community, including seniors, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and people with disability. An inclusive business facilitates the needs of all its employees and customers.

Entry Criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their commitment over the past 12 months to address the needs of a diverse community. This category is open to businesses that have been trading continuously for two or more years.

2025 Finalists

Abled Care and Nursing Services, Tuggerah

Allcare Nursing & Community Services, Toukley

Fairhaven CoPack, Tuggerah

Heartdancers Arts & Culture, Umina Beach

NeuroKind. Wyong

Regional Youth Support Services, Gosford

The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entry criteria

Entrants must to demonstrate their achievements in business excellence over the past 12 months at the time of entry. This category is open to businesses with fewer than five employees at the time of entry, that have been trading for more than 24 months.

2025 Finalists

AAGilesberg, Hamlyn Terrace

Casey Squires, Terrigal

Coastline Hardscapes, Budgewoi

Exhaust Notes Australia, Umina Beach

Iris Lodge Alpacas, Jilliby

Jessie Walker Photography, Toukley

Key2 Realty, Gosford

Loved By Laird, Gorokan

Lotus Naturopathy & Massage, Ourimbah

Rel8.app, Tuggerah

The Foundry Cowork, Gosford

The Leasing Network, Erina

The Modern Doula, Terrigal

The Scuba Gym Australia, Woy Woy

Your Business Realm, Matcham

The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements in business excellence over the past 12 months. This category is open to businesses with 5 to 20 employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for more than 24 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

Belle Movement, Umina Beach

Keleahs Early Learning And Development, Terrigal

Myrtec, Erina

Refreshing Pools, Berkeley Vale

Seton Family Lawyers, Erina

Teddy Bear Entertainment. East Gosford

Weyn Constructions, Tuggerah

The Excellence in Large Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Entry criteria

Entrants must demonstrate their achievements in business excellence over the past 12 months. This category is open to businesses with 21 or more employees at the time of entry, who have been trading for more than 24 months at the time of entry.

2025 Finalists

AGRANA Fruit, Central Mangrove

Archos Group, Wyong

Australian Reptile Park, Somersby

Central Coast Sports College, Kariong

DAYTODAY, Terrigal

Eastcoast Beverages, Kulnara

GMS Digital, Berkeley Vale

Gosford RSL Club, Gosford

Mingara Leisure Group, Tumbi Umbi

North Construction & Building, Tuggerah

REACH for Training, Wyong

Business of the Year is open to all winners of the following categories: 

• Excellence in International Business
• Employer of Choice 20 Employees and Under
• Employer of Choice 20 Employees and Over
• Excellence in Innovation  
• Excellence in Sustainability
• Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion
• Excellence in Micro Business  
• Excellence in Small Business   
• Excellence in Large Business 

This award is awarded to a Business that has been judged to be an outstanding business, that has provided an entry that demonstrates achievements and excellence over and above all other entrants. This award will be judged by a panel of three judges that have not judged any other entries in the awards.