Three new categories have been added to the Launceston Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.
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The chamber has added the awards to make self-made businessmen and women the focus for 2018, in what has been dubbed as the Year of the Entrepreneur.
The new awards – Retail Entrepreneur of the Year, Health Entrepreneur of the Year and Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year – will join the 17 other categories from 2017.
“These three new categories recognise the transition in the Launceston economy, with health and the tourism industries and also recognises the pivotal role that retail continues to play in Launceston,” Chamber executive officer Neil Grose said.
The 2018 awards were launched on Wednesday evening at the brand new Peppers Silo Hotel.
Mr Grose cited the hotel’s developer, Errol Stewart, as a shining example of ingenuity and innovation in Launceston.
“These awards recognise great ideas, hard work and calculated business risk,” he said.
“Entrepreneurs can be developers like Errol Stewart who have changed the face of Launceston over several decades to a new start-up for first time businesspeople.
“Launceston is experiencing a strong and optimistic burst of economic activity and it will be our solid contingent of entrepreneurs that capitalises on this to ensure our city’s future is vibrant and prosperous.”
Launceston entrepreneur Tara Howell said she had also seen a strong entrepreneurial spirit around the city.
Ms Howell co-owns the luxury Blue Derby Pods Ride and founded marketing consultancy business Echelon Marketing.
As well as that, people are seeing great successes and individual entrepreneurs succeed, like S.Group or Errol Stewart with the Silos [hotel].
- Entrepreneur Tara Howell
Echelon merged with S.Group last year, where she now serves as director of brand and marketing.
“I think the entrepreneurial spirit in Luanceston is really strong right now and there is a positive growth in start-ups in the city,” she said. “The Tasmanian economy as a whole is very positive right now and business conditions are very high, which would no doubt be having an effect.
“As well as that, people are seeing great successes and individual entrepreneurs succeed, like S.Group or Errol Stewart with the Silos [hotel].”
She said S.Group would nominate for several awards, while the Blue Derby Pods Ride would potentially also be entered.
“I think the awards are a great thing for businesses and workers to be able to get that recognition and reward for the work they do.
The Business Excellence Awards will be on Saturday, October 27 at the Grand Chancellor.
Nominations for the awards close on Monday, July 30, with entry forms available at lcc.asn.au.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
