Entries have opened to the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards. This year marks the 26th consecutive year of the awards, which highlight small businesses in the retail, services and manufacturing industries.
Presented by Commbank, the awards feature more than 100 categories including spotlight categories Business of the Decade, Small Business Young Entrepreneur (aged 30 and younger), Small Business Entrepreneur (aged over 30) and the 2024 Growth Award.
According to Australian government data, small businesses provide employment for 5.1 million Australians (nearly double that of big business) and account for one-third of Australia’s GDP. Moreover, as recognised via a 2023 report released by the Reserve Bank of Australia, small businesses continue to play an important role in local communities.
Awards founder Steve Loe said Australian businesses were currently doing it tough operating through rising inflation, increasing operating expenses, staffing challenges, and the current high cost of living.
“Even after more than two decades of presenting the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, I am still in awe of the resilience and remarkable triumphs of our nation’s small business operators
“From regional and rural areas to the suburbs and capital cities, small business operators from all parts of the country are encouraged to enter the Awards – free of charge – as we strive to celebrate the people behind the small businesses that shape their local communities and our nation as a whole,” said Loe.
Finalists of the 2024 programme will be announced in March 2024; and winners of the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards will be revealed via two National Presentation Evening Gala events on 12 and 13 April.
Online entry to the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards is free and will remain open until 15 February.
