Telstra Business Awards 2010

The 2010 Telstra Business Awards are now open for nominations with entrants offered the bonus of a ‘free Business Health Check’ to help identify opportunities to grow and expand.

It’s the 18th year Telstra has run the Awards recognising excellence in small and medium business both nationally and in every state and territory. They offer a combined prize pool of more than $400,000 in cash and prizes, as well as the kudos that comes from taking out Australia’s best-known and most prestigious business prize.

Free ‘health check’ for businesses entering Australia’s top awards

Running a small business can be a lonely job at times with owners usually working long hours often on their own – they don’t readily have the opportunity to get an independent assessment of how they are really travelling. The new Business Health Check really takes that a step further offering all businesses entering the chance to check their vital signs and get an even better picture of where they stand and how well placed they are to take advantage of opportunities to grow and expand.

The Business Health Check is based on international benchmarking standards including the Global Reporting Index and Innovation Standards, current legislation and accepted industry best practice.
It was developed by Telstra Business in consultation with the NSW Business Chamber which has been using it to coach and develop businesses over the past four years.

A Message from Panasonic’s Managing Director

Panasonic is proud to support the Telstra Business Awards as sponsor of the Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award, for the eighth consecutive year. Through our involvement we have seen the vital role the Awards play in nurturing the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of Australian business people. Like many great businesses, Panasonic had small beginnings and grew from a one-person business started by our founder Konosuke Matsushita in 1918. Mr Matsushita’s capacity to open his mind to many possibilities and his humility to learn from anyone and anything became central to Panasonic’s philosophy.

It is this inspired approach that has led to a long history of product innovation. Panasonic’s ‘ideas for life’ encapsulates this spirit and demonstrates our commitment to providing technology that can enrich people’s lives and advance our society.

We look forward to supporting innovative Australian business in 2010 and wish entrants every success in their business endeavours.

Steve Rust
Managing Director
Panasonic Australia

For the 2010 Telstra Business Awards, the categories are:

• businessowner Micro-Business Award – For businesses with five employees or fewer.
• MYOB Small Business Award – For businesses with more than five employees, but less than or equal to 20 employees.
• Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award – For businesses with more than 20 employees, but less than or equal to 200 employees.
• AMP Innovation Award – For businesses that have successfully introduced an innovation.
• Sensis Social Responsibility Award – For demonstrated leadership and contribution by a business to the environment, people, education or the community.

Category awards are offered in each state and territory, and an overall state/territory winner is selected from the category winners. Winners of each state/territory category are then eligible to take out the national category, with the overall state/territory winners eligible to win the 2010 Telstra Australian Business of the Year, which will be announced on 20 August.

Nominate and Enter!

To nominate and enter go to telstrabusinessawards.com or for any questions, you can call the Telstra Business Awards Team on 1800 262 323 between 9am and 7pm AEST Monday to Friday. Entries close at 5pm Eastern Standard Time on Friday 16 April 2010.