Business Awards Resources
Whether it’s your first time entering or you're aiming to build on past success, these resources are designed to help you shine.
Explore guidance from judges, tips from past winners, and best practices to make your entry stand out.
Your Entry Guide
Thinking of entering the 2026 Business Awards? This quick guide outlines the award categories and shares practical tips to help you understand what judges are looking for and how to structure strong, effective responses to the entry questions.
Download the guide before you start your application to give your entry the best chance of success.
Examples of Past Winning Entries
Check-out some past winning entries in the program to use as a guide.
Outstanding Employee
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.
Outstanding Young Business Leader
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.
Excellence in International Business
This award celebrates the NSW businesses taking Australian excellence to the world whether through exporting, technology, partnerships, international expansion, global trade, or digital service delivery. It recognises the businesses shaping Australia's global reputation and creating opportunities for growth, innovation, and influence overseas.
Employer of Choice – 20 Employees and Under
The Employer of Choice Award – 20 Employees and Under recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.
Employer of Choice – 21 Employees and Over
The Employer of Choice Award – 21 Employees and Over recognises a business that has implemented strategies and initiatives to create a stimulating and supportive workplace environment.
Excellence in Innovation
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.
Excellence in Sustainability
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.
Outstanding Community Organisation
The Outstanding Community Organisation Award recognises an organisation that works to improve the social, cultural, or environmental wellbeing of the community.
Outstanding New Business
The Outstanding New Business Award recognises a start-up that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate potential to achieve future success.
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
The Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award recognises businesses that champion inclusivity for diverse communities, such as older people, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and people with disability. An inclusive business facilitates the needs of all its employees and customers.
Excellence in Micro Business (5 Employees and Under)
The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business with 5 employees and under that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
Excellence in Small Business (6-20 Employees)
The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business with 6 to 20 employees that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
Excellence in Large Business (100+ Employees)
The Excellence in Large Business Award recognises a business with 100 plus employees that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.
Outstanding Local Chamber
The Outstanding Local Chamber Award recognises a chamber that has made a meaningful and measurable impact on its local business community over the past 12 months. This category celebrates chambers that champion local economic growth, strengthen business capability, foster collaboration, and deliver initiatives that create positive economic, environmental, or social outcomes.
Outstanding Visitor Experience
The Outstanding Visitor Experience award recognises a business that understands the importance of visitor engagement for a region’s economy* and reputation. The business needs to articulate how they promote the region while as well an offering an exceptional visitor experience.
Outstanding Visitor & 24-Hour Economy Collaboration
The Outstanding Visitor & 24-Hour Economy Collaboration Award recognises a collaborative project, initiative, or partnership that has strengthened and enhanced the visitor economy including the 24-hour economy over the past 12 months.
This category celebrates efforts led by Local Business Chambers, Local Government, Visitor Information Centres, Tourism Industry Associations, and groups of two or more operators who have worked together to deliver exceptional visitor experiences and increase the economic, social, and cultural value of their region.
Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
The Excellence in Sustainable Tourism* Award recognises a tourism business that has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable business practices both internally and in customer interactions. The award recognises efforts to minimise environmental impacts from its operations.
Business Awards Masterclass
Get insider tips from judges and past winners on crafting a standout business award entry for 2025 – including what to highlight, how to use AI wisely, and how to maximise your impact.
"How relevant was the topic to your current needs or interests?"
Rating: 8.12/10
The best part of the webinar was seeing how entering industry awards can really build our reputation and give the team a confidence boost.
I found it extremely helpful hearing from judges and previous winners in what helped them. Not necessarily for the awards but for the general advice all round. I really enjoyed the brief video at the beginning as a bit of an ice breaker too.
It was helpful to have a few more benefits for businesses applying and specific examples about the types of data and evidence to include.
Business Awards Entrant Workshop
Award-winning innovator and business judge Jennifer Weller shares expert tips on crafting a winning awards entry, drawing on her diverse experience across multiple industries and iconic brands. She shares practical insights, common pitfalls, and the power of asking ‘what if?’ to help you write with impact and confidence.
Jennifer is a Telstra Business Women’s Awards winner, chief judge for the Albury Wodonga Business Awards and a former Chair of Regional Development Australia Murray.
"I love being able to share my stuff ups and Ah ha! moments with the innovators in the program. If I can help them get to where they want to go faster than I did I am very happy. We are changing our region - one idea and one person at a time – what a privilege."
View the slides from this session here.