Congratulations to the 2021 Winners
Geelong, 19th of October 2021 – The Geelong Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the 2021 winners and finalists of the Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEA). The awards program celebrated our clever, creative and resilient business community with an extravagant virtual event for the second year in succession.
Along with our major sponsors LBW Business + Wealth Advisors and Deakin University, the Geelong Chamber recognises the accomplishments of our business community at a challenging time for businesses. The awards show acknowledged the hard work of the GBEA finalists and awarded those that have shown excellence in their endeavours. All winners used their resilience, creative and technical skills in a formidable way to navigate through a strenuous business environment.
Please head to our GBEA website for a full list of all 2021 category winners and sponsors.
Business of the Year Award goes to Home Instead Geelong
The LBW Business + Wealth Advisors Business of the Year Award goes to Home Instead Geelong. Home Instead Geelong also took out The Gordon’s Emerging Business – Under 3 Years Award and Giovanni Siano was further awarded the Deakin University Young Entrepreneur Award.
The judges thought Home Instead Geelong truly emerged as an excellent business within the Geelong community, with customer service and outstanding care giving at the core of every business decision made. With a solid foundation across the board, from internal processes, recruitment, staff training and sound financial management, Home Instead Geelong have rapidly grown their business. The judges commented that every aspect of the application was substantiated with examples, case studies, testimonials and figures and congratulate Home Instead Geelong on creating such a fabulous business.
Resilience across the board
For the second time in 35 years, the Geelong Business Excellence Awards shifted to an online format to adhere to government restrictions. The result: A spectacular virtual awards night celebrating the Geelong business community. Not only were the awards available to be watched live on Facebook, but also on Youtube, Vimeo as well as being televised on Channel 31. To ensure that the event was inclusive for everyone, the GBEA had an Auslan interpreter throughout the night.
The awards celebration started with a Welcome to Country by Jordon Edwards from the Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative followed by a warm welcome by Geelong Chamber President Dr. John Stekelenburg, who introduced Nathalie O’Donnell as the award show’s MC.
Special entertainment was provided by chart-topping artist and Geelong local, Taylor Henderson who performed his song Brighter Days and his number 1 single Borrow My Heart.
The awards put a strong focus on audience engagement with viewers being asked to dress up and share their photos on Facebook with the chance to win one of two hospitality vouchers. The shared photos showed creativity and excitement while celebrating our local businesses’ efforts.
The GBEA recognises organisations that have achieved business excellence in the Geelong region. These outstanding businesses have inspired with their passion, commitment, resilience, and their incredible ability to improve and innovate. The awards showcased some of Geelong’s best business talent, with over 70 businesses entering the awards each year.
We are grateful for the ongoing support of our Major Sponsors LBW Business + Wealth Advisors and Deakin University as well as all category sponsors and GBEA partners, who have made this program possible. The Geelong Chamber would like to thank everyone involved with this year’s Geelong Business Excellence Awards for their support. The achievements of our GBEA 2021 winners and finalists showcase the resilience of our entire business community.
