From thousands of entrants across the nation, 18 from the Central Coast have made the finalists list of the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards – the nation’s biggest celebration of women in small business.
The only national awards program of its kind created specifically to shine a spotlight on the rising economic, cultural and social contributions of female-led small businesses – spanning all capital cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns – the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is comprehensively judged according to stringent criteria by an independent expert panel.
Now in its third consecutive year, the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards features more than 60 categories across retail, services and manufacturing industries, as well as individual categories in celebration of the year’s most inspiring female small business trailblazers.
“We’re in the midst of an age of female entrepreneurial empowerment,” Awards Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions Steve Loe said.
“Despite the current high cost of living and myriad challenges associated with small business ownership at present, Australian women – absolutely including businesswomen from the Central Coast – are simply powering through and showing incredible resilience and drive across all industries of the small business sector.
“We received a high volume of high-quality submissions and so, the shortlisting of this year’s finalists was quite the challenge for our judges.
“When the champion judges evaluate entries, they consider all aspects of a business: its strategies, growth, eco-friendliness, innovation, customer service and community support – to name but some of the criteria.
“The next rounds of judging will be intense as we continue to evaluate the achievements of this year’s finalists to reach just a winner per category.”
The 18 finalists from the Central Coast are: Koori Curriculum, Wyoming (Early Childhood Services); Indigo Early Learning Centre, Forresters Beach (Early Childhood Services and Champion Woman Icon); The Little Teapot, Davistown (Café), Umina Beach Book Nook (Specialised Retail Small Business); Anuradha Thiers Bookkeeping & Accounting Services, Hamlyn Terrace (Accounting); Tasic Pure Oils, Hamlyn Terrace (Online Business); Iris Lodge Alpacas, Jilliby (Tourism); Women in Business Connect, Mardi (Women’s Organisation); Spoke Building and Interiors, Tuggerah (Trade Services); 24/7 Care Disability Services and Activity Hub, Tuggerah (Disability Support Services); Whole Warrior Solutions, Wyong (Community Service Small Business); Essence Images, North Avoca (Sole Operator); Mums2Mums Home Services, Terrigal (Cleaning Services); Kosi, Bateau Bay (New Business); Spring Buyers Agency, Kincumber (Real Estate); Brand Property Central Coast, Toukley (Real Estate); Mungbean Health, Charmhaven (Health Improvement Services); Norah Head Bowling and Sports Club (Specialised Small Business).
“Being selected as a finalist of this prestigious event – from a national entrant pool of thousands – is no easy feat and speaks volumes of the tenacity and leadership at each of these female-led small businesses,” Loe said.
“It’s truly a privilege to help spotlight the successes of these small businesswomen from the Central Coast and I wish them the very best of luck on awards night.”
Winners will be announced on August 24 at a national presentation evening gala event hosted by Channel Nine journalist Jayne Azzopardi at Sydney’s The Star.
For more information including a full list of the 2024 finalists, visit championawards.com.au/womens.
The 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards program is sponsored by Castaway Forecasting, Big Clean, Xcllusive Business Sales and NOVA Employment.
It’s Truly an amazing honour to be a finalist up with these amazing central coast business leaders