Apply for Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards – Australia

Categories

Applicants are invited to directly apply in the following categories:​​​​​

• Small Business Achieveme​​​​nt Award 
  • Honouring longstanding small businesses who have been operating in the City of Melbourne for milestones of 10+, 20+, 40+ years.
  • Benefits for recipients include recognition by the City of Melbourne, a certificate signed by the Lord Mayor, inclusion in a photographic exhibition, an invitation to attend to the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards Ceremony along with marketing and promotional opportunities.
• Small Business Innovation Award
  • This award honours a small business that has embraced innovation to improve outcomes for their business, clients and/or community. This includes innovation applied through the introduction or improvement of knowledge, technology, method, or process. Each applicant will be required to demonstrate significant improvement in either management and/or business practices or in their products or services. All businesses must be located in the City of Melbourne.
  • The Small Business Innovation Award applications will be judged by a panel of City of Melbourne and external judges.
  • The winner will be presented with a cash prize at the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards ceremony, certificate signed by the Lord Mayor, inclusion in a photographic exhibition as well as marketing and promotional opportunities.   ​
• Small Business of the Year ​
  • Open to all small businesses located within the City of Melbourne, this award honours one outstanding small business who have successfully implemented initiatives that demonstrate excellence across all areas of their small business.  They’re looking for but not limited to small businesses who have professionally navigated challenges in their business environment, have presented and shown leadership in sustainability, innovation, staff support and customer care practices.
  • The Small Business of the Year applications will be judged by a panel of City of Melbourne and external judges.
  • The winner will be presented with a cash prize at the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards ceremony, certificate signed by the Lord Mayor, inclusion in a photographic exhibition as well as marketing and promotional opportunities.

​​​​​​​​​​Who can apply?

• Applications are open to:
  • ​Achievement Award – current proprietors of independent small businesses (fewer than 20 employees equivalent full-time) that have operated continuously within the City of Melbourne for at least 10 years or more.
  • Small Business of the Year – current proprietors of independent small businesses (fewer than 20 employees equivalent full-time) within the City of Melbourne.
  • Small Business Innovation Award – current proprietors of independent small businesses (fewer than 20 employees equivalent full-time) within the City of Melbourne.​
• It is a condition of entry that proprietors consent to having their photo taken for the purpose of publicity of the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards including the photo exhibition.
• To be eligible, nominees must have no outstanding fees, dues or fines with the City of Melbourne. The decision to grant a Small Business Award is at the City of Melbourne’s absolute discretion.
• The qualifying period for applicants starts from the year the applicant became a financial partner or proprietor in the business. ​​

For more information, visit City of Melbourne.