Government, education, health and industry recognise business excellence at 2021 Northern Business Achievement Awards.
NORTH Link and partners hosted the 2021 Northern Business Achievement Awards Grand Finale online event on Thursday 2 December. Industry leaders and local government from six municipalities in Melbourne’s north attended the event, which recognised achievements of businesses from the region after a difficult 18 months impacted by COVID-19.
Reservoir mushroom farmers The Mushroom Place were awarded Business of the Year and the Diversity Award, while 11 more awards were handed to businesses that demonstrated business excellence, growth and competitiveness in 2021.
The Mushroom Place Manager Nella Sciacca said she was proud of her team for the achievement, acknowledging the challenges the business and staff faced over the pandemic.
“We are delighted to receive these awards. A big thank you to our hardworking team, who’ve put in a great effort over a difficult year. We’re still navigating those challenges but every day is a new day. There’s never a dull moment at The Mushroom Place! A big thank you to the City of Darebin for our nomination and the NBAAs for this honour.”
Chris James, Executive Director NORTH Link noted that COVID-19 had made 2021 very difficult for everyone, particularly local businesses.
“These awards gave us the opportunity to recognise the persistence and resilience businesses have shown this year,” he said. “It makes us very proud of our community.”
Other winners included:
- Advanced Manufacturing: Softmed nominated by Hume City Council
- Best Start-up or Microbusiness: Restaurant St. Lawrence nominated by Nillumbik Shire Council
- Customer Service Award: Lashes On Point nominated by City of Whittlesea
- Export Award: INOX nominated by City of Whittlesea
- Human Resources Award: URBNSURF nominated by Hume City Council
- Industry Education Engagement Award: CERES nominated by Moreland City Council
- Innovation and Enterprise Award: INOX nominated by City of Whittlesea
- Philanthropy Award – Business (tied): Marshall Street Studios nominated by Banyule City Council and URBNSURF nominated by Hume City Council
- Philanthropy Award – Social Enterprise: Free to Feed nominated by City of Darebin
- Sustainability and Environment Award: M&M Printworks nominated by Nillumbik Shire Council
- Technology: Stupid Old Studios nominated by Moreland City Council
- Workplace Diversity Award: The Mushroom Place nominated by City of Darebin.
The awards align with NORTH Link’s drive for economic development, marketing and promotion of Melbourne’s north, by recognising local business achievement, encouraging innovation and providing valuable networks and opportunities for enterprise growth and development.
You can watch the 2021 NBAA Grand Finale here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWJzrpb1T-Q&ab_channel=NORTHLink.