1. Overview
The Greater Shepparton Business Network (GSBN), in partnership with Awards Naming Rights Sponsor SPC and our valued Business Awards Sponsors, is proud to present the 2025 Greater Shepparton SPC Business Excellence Awards. These Awards honour and celebrate the outstanding achievements of local businesses and individuals who exemplify innovation, excellence, and a strong commitment to the Greater Shepparton community. They provide a platform to recognise those making a significant impact across our region’s diverse and thriving business landscape.
The Awards are designed not only to acknowledge business success but to inspire continuous growth, leadership, and community spirit across the region. Participation provides businesses with recognition, networking opportunities, media exposure, and the chance to showcase their achievements on a wider platform.
These Terms and Conditions outline the rules governing eligibility, nominations, judging, privacy, and other key elements of participation in the Awards.
2. Eligibility Criteria
To maintain the integrity and prestige of the Awards, all nominees must satisfy specific eligibility requirements.
Businesses must be actively operating within the Greater Shepparton City Council boundary, which includes Shepparton, Mooroopna, Tatura, Murchison, Dookie, and surrounding areas. Each business must hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and must have been continuously trading for a minimum of 12 months as of 1 July 2025.
To be eligible:
- Businesses must have a physical presence within the Greater Shepparton region.
- Businesses must have an ABN registered within the Greater Shepparton region.
- Individuals must be employed in or own a business that operates within the Greater Shepparton region.
- Nominees must demonstrate ethical business practices and be compliant with all relevant local, state, and federal laws.
- Businesses or individuals must not be subject to any ongoing insolvency, bankruptcy, administration, or regulatory investigation proceedings.
GSBN reserves the right verify eligibility at any stage of the nomination and judging process. Any nominee found to be ineligible may be disqualified without notice.
3. Nomination Process
Nominations for the 2025 Greater Shepparton SPC Business Excellence Awards will officially open on Wednesday 14 May and close at midnight on Friday 22 August. Nominations may be made either by self-nomination or third-party nomination. Forms are available online through the official Greater Shepparton Business Network (GSBN) website. Nominees can either submit their nomination electronically or complete and return a printed PDF nomination form to GSBN.
When a business or individual is nominated by a third party, GSBN representatives may contact the nominee to confirm acceptance of the nomination and request the completion of additional follow-up questions to support the nomination/s. Only confirmed nominations will proceed.
It is the responsibility of the nominator to ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete. Incomplete, falsified, or misleading nominations may be deemed ineligible at any stage of the process.
4. Award Categories
The 2025 Greater Shepparton SPC Business Excellence Awards recognise a diverse range of businesses and individuals contributing to the economic, social, and cultural vitality of Greater Shepparton. Each category is designed to highlight outstanding achievements, innovation, leadership, and community contribution within the local business sector.
The available award categories include:
- Apprentice / Trainee of the Year
- Best Marketing / Advertising Campaign of the Year
- Emerging & Micro Business of the Year
- Excellence in Business: Professional, Retail, and Trade Services
- Excellence in Customer Service: Professional, Retail / Hospitality, and Trade Services
- Excellence in Export Market Development
- Excellence in Food & Agribusiness
- Excellence in Innovation
- Visitor Experience of the Year
- Young Professional of the Year
- Hall of Fame
Each award category has specific criteria tailored to its sector and focus, designed to identify businesses and individuals making outstanding contributions in their field. Full descriptions of each category and judging criteria are available on the GSBN website. GSBN reserves the right to reallocate nominations to a more suitable category if necessary to ensure fairness and relevance.
5. Judging Process
The judging process for the 2025 Greater Shepparton SPC Business Excellence Awards has been designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and thorough evaluation of all nominees.
Once nominations have been received and verified, an initial shortlisting process is undertaken by an independent judging panel. Nominations are reviewed to determine which businesses and individuals will proceed to the finalist stage. All confirmed finalists will be notified and invited to participate in a presentation ceremony held fortnightly throughout the nomination period. Finalists will receive a certificate of recognition during these presentations.
Following the closure of nominations and the completion of all finalist presentations, the list of finalists is formally provided to the final judging panel. Judges, who are independent experts from a range of industries, will then commence the final assessment stage. This involves:
- Conducting interviews with finalists in person to gain deeper insights into their achievements and operations.
- Completing site visits where appropriate, to assess the business environment and operations firsthand.
- Scoring each finalist against pre-determined evaluation criteria outlined for each award category.
Each judge independently completes a scoring sheet for every finalist. Once all interviews and site visits are completed, judges compile and submit their scores. The finalist with the highest total score in each award category will be deemed the winner.
Winners will be formally announced at Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner. Final judging scores and deliberations remain confidential, and the judges’ decisions are final.
6. Privacy and Confidentiality
GSBN is committed to safeguarding the confidentiality and privacy of all nomination submissions. All information provided in nominations will be treated as strictly confidential and will be used solely for the purposes of assessment and administration of the Awards.
Personal and business information will be shared only with the appointed Business Awards Committee and judging panel. No details will be disclosed publicly without the express written consent of the nominee, except where necessary for promotional purposes once finalists and winners are announced.
7. Promotion and Media Consent
By accepting a nomination, all finalists and winners agree to participate in promotional activities related to the Awards. This may include, but is not limited to, interviews, photographs, video recordings, and media releases.
GSBN reserve the right to use the names, images, logos, and promotional material related to finalists and winners in marketing campaigns, social media, digital and print media, and future promotional efforts without additional compensation or notification, unless explicitly requested otherwise by the nominee in writing.
Participation in promotional activities is an integral part of the Awards, intended to highlight the achievements of businesses within the Greater Shepparton region and to inspire the broader business community.
8. Disqualification
GSBN reserves the right to disqualify any nominee at any point during the nomination or judging process if there is evidence of ineligibility, breach of these Terms and Conditions, provision of false or misleading information, or conduct deemed inappropriate or damaging to the reputation of the Awards, GSBN, Sponsors, or the Greater Shepparton community.
Should disqualification occur after the presentation of an award, GSBN reserves the right to rescind the award and request its return.
9. Award Outcomes
All winners will be officially announced at the 2025 Greater Shepparton SPC Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner on Friday 24 October 2025. Each winner will receive an engraved award. Winners will also receive a licence to use the official 2025 SPC Business Excellence Awards Winner logo for promotional purposes for a period of 12 months.
Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or alternative benefits. Winners will receive media exposure and promotional support through GSBN’s communication channels, offering further opportunity to showcase their achievements to a broad regional and state-wide audience.
10. Modifications, Postponements, and Cancellations
In circumstances beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, public health emergencies, or insufficient nomination numbers, GSBN reserves the right to amend, postpone, or cancel the Awards or any part thereof.
In the event of modifications, entrants will be notified via the GSBN website, social media platforms, and/or direct communications. GSBN will endeavour to ensure that any changes are made with minimal disruption to participants.
11. Acceptance of Terms
By submitting a nomination, accepting a nomination, or participating in any stage of the Awards process, businesses and individuals agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions without exception. They acknowledge that participation is contingent on compliance with all guidelines and that failure to do so may result in disqualification.
Entrants also accept that the judging decisions are final, and binding and that all intellectual property associated with promotional materials produced for the Awards remains the property of GSBN.
Any enquiries related to these Terms and Conditions, or the Awards process can be directed to the GSBN Administrative Team via admin@gsbn.net.au or by phoning 0407 503 886.