Perfect time to celebrate region’s businesses

The Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards are returning in 2022, with an earlier start date and additional categories for businesses and individuals to celebrate their achievements.

The awards are free to enter and nominations open on May 16 at 9am. They close on July 17 at 11.59pm.

Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT) CEO Shane Newcombe is encouraging businesses of all sizes to enter this year.

“With the effects of COVID, and now floods, still being felt by our region’s businesses, there is no better time to celebrate their resilience, innovation and successes,” Mr Newcombe says

“Our small and medium businesses are the heart and soul of our region.

“It is more important than ever to acknowledge these businesses that contribute to our region’s economy and provide jobs for local people.”

This year’s program is accompanied by additional resources and information sessions which aim to demystify the awards process.

“The simple fact is that we have thousands of small businesses who qualify for these awards each year, but for reasons such as, being time poor, lack of awards writing experience, or the belief this is not for them, they don’t enter,” Mr Newcombe says.

“MBRIT and Council are working together to develop online and in-person resources aimed at helping business owners and individuals understand what judges are looking for and how to write a quality awards submission.”

Shining a light on perseverance

Moreton Bay Region Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway says the resilience and perseverance shown by local businesses is cause for celebration, and she is encouraging them to apply as soon as nominations open on May 16.

“The last two years have been some of the toughest in recent memory for small business owners,” Cr Shipway says.

“These awards are a wonderful opportunity for them to shine, to share their achievements with the community and get the recognition they deserve for all their hard work.

“This Council is passionate about backing local business to succeed, which is why we introduced a new ‘Local Buy’ policy to give favourable weighting towards local businesses when tendering Council contracts.

“Since the policy’s introduction Council has used 685 local suppliers (38.4 per cent of the total suppliers used by Council) in the 2021/2022 financial year, injecting approximately $150 million into the local economy.

“We also launched a new Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS), setting our business community and local industry on the path to building a $40 billion Moreton Bay economy by 2041 with the ambition of generating 100,000 new jobs.

“The REDS will steer our innovators and entrepreneurs of today towards a stronger future, positioning Moreton Bay as one of Australia’s top 10 regional innovation hubs by 2041.

“On top of this, we’ve got the new and exciting innovation and tech hub at The Mill at Moreton Bay, plus stage 2 of the USC Moreton Bay campus, creating jobs, new opportunities, and sparking imaginations. We’ve also just launched Caboolture Made, working to attract visitors and new business to this key area, as well as boosting the already energised local economy.

“I know this year’s field will set the bar higher than ever, so just nominating as a 2022 entrant puts you amongst esteemed company as one of the incredible businesses that contributes to making our region such a great place to shop, play, work and live in.”

Award categories

There are 15 categories, plus the Business of the Year Award, in the 2022 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards:

• Food and Agribusiness Excellence

• North Harbour Advanced Manufacturing Excellence

• Tourism Business Excellence

• Customer Service Excellence

• Exporting Excellence

• Environment & Sustainability Excellence

• SRJ Walker Wayland Not-For-Profit Excellence

• Innovation Excellence

• Epic Assist Accessibility & Inclusiveness Excellence

• Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence

• Bishopp Outdoor Advertising Marketing Excellence

Individual awards

• USC Youth Innovation Excellence

• Businesswoman of the Year

• Employee of the Year

• Think2Be Entrepreneur of the Year

The Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards are proudly brought to you by Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT) and partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council. The Gala Awards night is on October 21.

For full details on the awards, including how to nominate and help with submissions visit the website