A future where roofing materials will generate solar energy without the need for add-on PV panels has helped The Specialty Group clinch the Melbourne Business Awards’ ‘Business of the Year’ title.
The Moorabbin-based industrial textiles manufacturer edged out close competition from global fast food industry technology developer Summit Innovations and Cheltenham family food business, Corvina Foods.
Other nominees included solar hot water systems developer Chromagen, feature glass products manufacturer Celsius Glass, software and electronics engineering firm Hydrix, footwear make Koalabi and electronics component manufacturer Fabtronics.
“It was very difficult to separate the nominees during the judging process, such is the quality of what they do,” MBAs’ chairman Geoff Lawyer said.
“Once again, it was a privilege to be able to recognise and reward some of these amazing businesses, particularly this year in what is our 20th anniversary.
“This year’s winner and nominees again demonstrate just how dynamic the south-east region of Melbourne is in terms of the diversity of commercial, industrial and manufacturing businesses based here and the products and services they deliver.”
The gala breakfast, held at the Hemisphere Conference Centre, capped off a busy year for the Awards, which were established in 1992 as a forum to recognise small to medium businesses operating across the region.
The eight nominees were celebrated at four business breakfasts through the year before the gala breakfast on November 30.
It was an especially poignant occasion as master of ceremonies Rod Shell retired after 13 years as the much-loved and well-respected face of the breakfast events.
Treasurer Gary Nugent and outgoing deputy chairperson Denise Langford paid tribute to Rod and also delivered a snapshot of the organisation’s history and ethos on which the Awards have been built.
“They [Awards] were established in the midst of difficult economic times and they have continued to grow because of the involvement and determination of a great group of business people,” Gary told the 200-strong crowd.
“Never have we heard the cry, ‘what’s in it for me’, but ‘what can I do to help’ – that’s been the ethos of the Awards and of those determined to build something great and not become just a chamber of commerce or similar organisation.”
Planning is now well under way for the 2013 Awards program, with the first nominees breakfast set for Friday, March 1 (see full event schedule below).
For more information about the Melbourne Business Awards, please visit:
www.melbournebusinessawards.com.au
