The Warrigal Care team celebrates after picking up three categories at last year’s Illawarra Business Awards. Entries are now open for the 2025 awards. Photo: Josh Brightman/Balanced Image Studio.
Six new categories have been added to this year’s Illawarra Business Awards, with entries now open.
In the awards’ 31st year, Business Illawarra has added the categories of Outstanding Visitor Experience, Outstanding Visitor Economy Collaboration, Outstanding 24-Hour Economy Collaboration, Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Outstanding Local Chamber and Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion.
They take the total of awards in the prestigious competition to 20.
The awards celebrate business excellence and recognise the outstanding achievements and continued success of the region’s most innovative companies and professionals.
Last year, Illawarra aged care service Warrigal pulled off a hat-trick of awards, claiming Business of the Year, Excellence in Workplace Culture and Excellence in Large Business.
In accepting the awards, CEO Jenni Hutchins said the Warrigal team was “incredibly honoured”. She said the accolades were a tribute to the hard work of Warrigal’s staff and the trust placed in the team by the community.
The deadline for entries is 13 June and the gala ceremony will be held in Wollongong on 19 September. The winners will go on to represent the region at the NSW State Business Awards in late October.
Categories are Excellence in Tech, Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion, Outstanding Employee, Excellence in Micro Business, Outstanding Young Business Leader (aged 35 and under), Excellence in Small Business, Outstanding Business Leader, Excellence in Large Business, Excellence in International Business, Outstanding Local Chamber, Excellence in Workplace Culture, Outstanding Visitor Experience, Excellence in Innovation, Outstanding Visitor Economy Collaboration, Excellence in Sustainability, Outstanding 24-hour Economy Collaboration, Outstanding Community Organisation, Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Outstanding New Business (trading for less than two years) and Business of the Year.
Each category is judged by a panel of up to three people who are selected from subject matter experts, business award program partners or Business NSW and My Business executive management.
Visit Business Illawarra for more information and details on how to enter.
