A mobile gymnastics school run from a van, by Aberglasslyn’s 25-year-old Samantha Nicholls, is just one innovative venture on a list of Hunter businesses named as finalists in this year’s state business and tourism awards.
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A cohort of 17 Hunter businesses, including Waratah Port Coal Services and former Australian Tourism Award winner Sand Dune Adventures, is up for gongs at NSW Business Chamber’s annual award ceremonies.
Ms Nicholls, owner of Gymanstics 21, said it was a “nice shock” to find out her two-year-old business was a finalist in the award’s Startup Superstar category.
She said she developed a vision for her “mobile gymnastics club”, which now employs five people, while working as an instructor.
“It was just having a really good experience with gymnastic while growing up, and working at other places, learning from everywhere I went,” she said.
“It’s quite labour intensive but it’s too rewarding not to do it.”
Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said the nominations demonstrated the excellence and entrepreneurial spirit of Hunter businesses.
The Business Awards finalists illustrate the strength and diversity of our business sector, with nominees coming from a range of fields and industries including construction, sport, social housing, mining and manufacturing, workforce education, disability care, business solutions and property development,” Mr Hawes said.
“In the tourism sector, our leading operators have helped boost the number of visitor nights spent in the Hunter by nearly 14 per cent for the year to June 2018.”
Winners of the NSW Tourism Awards and State Business Awards will be announced on November 22 and 23 in Sydney.
Hunter region finalists in the NSW Tourism Awards
- Oakvale Wildlife Park, Tourist Attraction
- Moonshadow – TQC Cruises, Major Tour and/or Transport Operator
- Beyond Ballooning, Tour and/or Transport Operator; Adventure Tourism
- Port Stephens 4WD Tours, Tour and/or Transport Operator
- Sand Dune Adventures, Qantas Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism; Adventure Tourism
- Margan Wines & Restaurant, Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services; Excellence in Food Tourism
State Business Awards:
- Lisa Kernes, Ignite Alliance, Outstanding Young Entrepreneur
- Kyle Loades, NRMA, Credit Union Australia Hunter, Medical Research Institute Foundation, Outstanding Business Leader
- SEHEZ Group, Excellence in Small Business
- Ampcontrol, Excellence in Business
- Compass Housing Services, Excellence in Innovation
- Novaskill, Excellence in Export
- Port Waratah Coal Services, Excellence in Sustainability
- Allambi Care, Excellence in Social Enterprise
- Gymnastics 21, Startup Superstar
- Port Waratah Coal Services, Outstanding Employer of Choice
- Tomaree Business Chamber, Local Chambers of Commerce
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