Nominations for the 2007 National NEIS Association Business Awards have now closed.
There was a tremendous response to the awards this year and 46 entries were received over the four award categories.
Once again the awards show the huge diversity of businesses that are started with the assistance of NEIS, and that we have some very talented (and hardworking) clients. The AAMI NEIS Change category has unearthed some businesses who have truly turned their lives around with the assistance of NEIS and we look forward to profiling these for you in NEIS News and on the NNA website (logins for which will be sent by the end of the month).
Finally, we are able to recognise the contribution of a number of NEIS practitioners through the unsung hero category. It is simply a shame that not everyone could be a finalist, but all entries over the four categories were certainly worthy of their nominations and shall be receiving a certificate to recognise their nomination.
A summary of all awards nominees is below:
Best New Business
“100 Monkeys” Wholefood and Organics Store and Café (Chishom)l half retail store selling wholefoods, organic vegetables and natural skin care/grocery items and half café serving healthy nutrious meals including those that cater for special dietary requirements.
Aduki (Box Hill) A boutique publishing company based in Melbourne with a focus on non-fiction books, essays and magazines.
Ben Johnson Signwriting (Kangan Batman) a signwriting company that also does sign installation and removal, plus contract work for signage companies providing own tools and transport of signs.
BL International Sourced Products Pty Ltd (Chisholm) a business importing packaging material from Asia and distributing the products to wholesales and retailers in Australia.
B.O.S.S. Cabinets (Mission Brisbane) Cabinet makers in the Brisbane region.
Bounce Sports (Swinburne) Bounce Sports concentrates on health and fitness programs for school age children. They cover the requirements for the PE curriculum, providing exciting and fun filled activities.
Byrnsey’s Glass and Security (Mission Toowoomba) Supply and installation of security screens, doors and glass for building contractors, home owners, real estate agents and local government.
Elation Bikes (Career Employment Australia) Allan Dow invented a mechanical kit that could be installed on almost any bicycle to convert it to a dual (pedal and power) bike. You may recognize this business from his appearance on the ABC’s “New Inventors”.
Emma Elizabeth Designs (Mission Brisbane) specializing in commercial interior design including design, styling and art direction.
Flipp Management (Eastern Suburbs BEC) an agency that represents Photographers and Stylists in the genre of lifestyle advertising.
Gap Recruitment (Mission Parramatta) a specialist recruitment agency that focuses on the permanent placement of insurance and accounting staff within the Sydney market.
iQuestfinance (Box Hill) a financial services company that is committed to provide unique quality financial solutions tailored to individuals and small businesses’ financial needs.
Lyn Beaton (RMIT) has a passion for research and writing and has found a niche in the market place for her skills as a research and writing consultant.
Nicole Pitcon Graphic Design (Kangan Batman) Provides Graphic Design for businesses, agencies and individuals.
Outback Now (Career Employment Australia) Outback Now is outback Australia’s largest travel website. The business promotes tours, attractions, accommodation, events and towns in Australia’s largest tourism destination, the Outback.
PetCareVet Pty Ltd (Chisholm) Delivering veterinary services including a mobile unit and 24 hour on-call services.
Photography by Visage (Employment Options Inc) a photography business based in regional South Australia.
Play Safe, Gas Safe (Murray Hume BEC) Kevin Barber has designed and manufactured and now markets the Smell Alive Gas Alarm which detects and alerts the presence of un-ignited LPG and natural gas. The product is featured in Origin Energy showrooms and with other leading retailers.
Qi Health Clinic (RMIT) a clinic specializing in Health care through Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage.
Skip It Bin Hire (Kangan Batman) This business supplies various sized skip bins and disposes of household waste.
Sushi Circle (Mission Gosford) A sushi take-away shop located in the Gosford Town Centre.
Tiffins Pty Ltd (AMES) a unique catering service specializing in delivering healthy low cost lunch solutions to businesses and residences in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. Tiffins offers a wide range of traditional Indian cuisine and meals are uniquely delivered by tricycles in the true Indian tradition.
Vibrant Health (Mission Adelaide) a partnership formed from two businesses that met during NEIS training, creating an allied/complementary health clinic where the owners love to work and the clients love to attend.
Best Growth Business
Blundell Property Rentals (ABDC) A service based business specializing in property management. The business has doubled its turnover in it’s two and a half years of operation and now employs three staff in addition to the owners.
Express Training Connections (Employment Options Inc) a training organisation providing customized training suit corporate needs.
In2health (Kangan Batman) a clinic utilizing natural health therapies and related products, about to branch into personal training.
Nationwide Hospitality Group (Kangan Batman) specializing in hospitality recruitment for businesses and events.
Jonno’s Car Wash/ Jonno’s Magic Wash (Box Hill) A waterless carwash and distribution and sale of waterless carwash products based in Melbourne.
Pulse for Health and Rehabilitation (Chisholm) providing health management and rehabilitation through massage, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, nutrition and pilates.
Spot On Concrete Sawing (Mission Brisbane) a concrete cutting and sawing business including the cutting, drilling and grinding of concrete and cutting ashphalt.
AAMI NEIS-Change Award
Alf Harper Maintenance (Mission Australia Katoomba) Since completing the NEIS training, Alf Harper has established a successful business in the Blue Mountains and teaches at the local TAFE.
Café Sarabella (Kangan Batman) Take-away and dine in café business speciailising in Gluten free dishes and cuisine from Asia and the sub-continent.
Clean Scene (Mission Campbelltown) A business offering cleaning and maintenance services in Sydney, this business has truly allowed its owners to break what they have described as the poverty cycle.
Howlong Playhouse (Murray Hume BEC) a 45 place Long Day Care Centre servicing the families of Howlong and surrounding districts.
Mamo Mobile Mechanic (Kangan Batman) A mobile mechanic offering most services who visits clients at home and at businesses.
Six Hands (Eastern Suburbs BEC) an Innovative and dynamic trio of artists, specializing in textile and print design, producing stunning original artwork for fashion fabrics, t-shirts, coordinated interiors, wallpapers, soft furnishings and more.
Speed Thinking (RMIT) a business specializing in personal impact training for presentation and promotion by providing mentoring and coaching for personal and professional performance excellence.
Waterless Gardens (Chisholm) A horticulturalist service for the general public specializing in garden design, restoration and maintenance
Unsung Hero
David Rozynski (Mission Toowoomba) Mentor, trainer and administrator of Mission’s Southern Queensland NEIS program.
Di Franklin (Mission Adelaide) Trainer for Mission in South Australia who has been involved with NEIS since 2002.
Ken Johnson (EMCS) Mentor and Mentor Coordinator who has been involved in NEIS since October 1996 and assisted over 1500 businesses.
Len Alabaster (Box Hill) Mentor, Trainer and Administrator. Has assisted approximately 1200 participants in over ten years of NEIS.
Narelle Thomas (Box Hill) NEIS Program Coordinator. Responsible for the administration of Box Hill’s NEIS programs, which are delivered at ten locations in Melbourne.
Peter Murray (Box Hill) NEIS Manager, Trainer and Mentor. Has been involved with NEIS since December 1994 and assisted in excess of 2500 businesses.
Renton Currie (Business and Employment) NEIS Trainer and Manager. Has managed NEIS for Business and Employment and been actively involved in the NNA as Tasmanian Representative.
Tom Zsolt (Box Hill) Mentor. Has been involved with NEIS since 1996 and has assisted over 1250 participants.
And the finalists are:
Best New Business:
• BL International Sourced Products Pty Ltd (Chisholm)
• B.O.S.S. Cabinets (Mission Brisbane)
• Byrnsey’s Glass and Security (Mission Toowoomba)
• Flipp Management (Eastern Suburbs BEC)
• Lyn Beaton (RMIT)
• Vibrant Health (Mission Adelaide)
Best Growth Business:
• Blundell Property Rentals (ABDC)
• Express Training Connections (Employment Options Inc)
• Nationwide Hospitality Group (Kangan Batman)
• Jonno’s Car Wash/ Jonno’s Magic Wash (Box Hill)
• Spot On Concrete Sawing (Mission Brisbane)
AAMI NEIS Change Award:
• Alf Harper Maintenance (Mission Australia Katoomba)
• Clean Scene (Mission Campbelltown)
• Howlong Playhouse (Murray Hume BEC)
• Speed Thinking (RMIT)
• Waterless Gardens (Chisholm)
These businesses truly demonstrate that NEIS can change lives. From breaking the welfare cycle to just persevering in business through difficult times, these NEIS businesses have shown that good grounding and support makes a huge difference.
Unsung Hero:
• David Rozynski (Mission Toowoomba)
• Di Franklin (Mission Adelaide)
• Ken Johnson (EMCS)
• Narelle Thomas (Box Hill)
Congratulations to all finalists, the winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner on the 30th of October in Perth.