Business Summary

Describe your business operations, including an overview of your products and services, customers/markets, premises, background, number of employees etc. (Up to 300 words)

TIPS: Assume the judges do not know anything about your business, so you need to explain it as you would to a stranger. This sets the scene for the judges regarding your business.

Addressing the Criteria

When addressing the criteria, respond to the recommendations in each criterion in dot point form. The Judges want to know from your written entry, a brief summary of your processes in each of the criterion. Emphasise- what you do, how you do it and the benefits that accrue from your processes. You will be able to add additional information and examples during your presentation to the Judges.

1. Describe your vision for your organisation and the leadership you provide

• Describe your vision for your business and how you communicate and demonstrate it to employees.
• Describe how you lead your organisation, build your team work and guide your employees towards delivering your vision

Tips: Judges are looking for clarity of vision (do you know where you are going with your business?). If employing staff, how you get them engaged (owning the vision) and how you lead them to ensure delivery of the vision. OR, how you motivate yourself if a single operator/micro business.

2. Business Development

• Describe the steps you will take / have taken to achieve the goals related to your vision for the business.
• Describe the objectives that you have set for your business and the tasks planned to deliver your goals.

Tips: Judges are looking for how do you manage yourself and your team; keep yourself/them focussed and motivated to deliver the Vision. E.g. strategies, goals, business plans, tasks, targets and KPI’s.

3. Marketing Strategy

• Who is/are your target market/s and how does your product or service meet those needs?
• What research have you undertaken to establish your marketing plans?

Tips: Judges are looking for how well you know your customers and how you cater to their specific needs. Are they baby boomers, generation x/y, product or service driven? They would also like to know how you market yourself? ie: website and how you evaluate the feedback you receive?

4. Marketing Actions and Promotion

• How do you market and promote your business?

Tips: Judges are looking for what differentiates you from your competitors, and all your methods of marketing such as advertising, public relations, newsletters, direct marketing, e-marketing, website, databases, information and feedback line, expos, surveys, vouchers and coupons, special events.

5. Human Resource Management and Training

• Describe how you recruit the right people and test if their attitude suits the culture that you want in your business.
• Describe how you help develop your people’s skills to encourage resourcefulness and creativity.

– If a Micro Business: What training do you undertake to improve your own skills.

Tips: Judges are looking for how you ensure you get the right people with the right attitude; how you ensure your people get and maintain competency, and how you maintain harmony and team work.

6. Customer Service

• How do you maintain and measure the quality of your customer service?

Tips: Judges are looking to understand your commitment to customer service; your policy for customer service Do you know your customers needs; do you seek feed back; relationship with suppliers, how you deal with complaints, and changes implemented due to feedback. Monitoring of repeat business, delivery of product/service and any special services.

7. Achievements over the past 12 months

• What goals, innovations or milestones has your business achieved in the past twelve months and how?
• If consolidating your business and managing the current economic environment, how have you managed the progress and maintenance of your business to ensure its viability and how have you reviewed it?

Tips: Judges are looking for such things as diversifi cation, new contracts, new markets, new product lines, expanded production, increased employment, industry accreditation, quality control process, policies and procedures, moved to new location, implementation of new systems, and use of new technologies.

8. Business Performance

• Explain and demonstrate how you have ‘worked on your business’ to consolidate and/or achieve growth.
• Describe how you review your budget and cash flow, debt management and re-investment in your business, and if applicable, your inventory.
• Describe how you assess and minimise any potential risk to your business that may have an effect on your services or production.

TIPS: Judges are looking for such things as increased sales, budget forecasts and comparisons. Use only percentage terms. Use tables/graphs and demonstrate your performance. Also if applicable how you address insurance needs, OH&S standards, security of funds, back-up systems and government regulations.

Remember- rapid growth is not necessarily the sign of a well managed business. Continual review of processes and incremental improvement are the cornerstones of a successful business ensuring ongoing viability.

9. Corporate Citizenship (Corporate Social Responsibility)

• Describe the practices you employ that consider and support the local environment in which you operate ethically and socially.

Tips: Judges are looking for how you are seen by your community. Describe how you contribute to and fit into the community in which you operate. Consider such things as – environment, education, apprenticeships, traineeships, philanthropic, business and community involvement, ethical stance.

10. Sustainability and contribution to the local environment (Answer if not entering the Sustainability Category)

• Describe the practices you employ in recycling, waste disposal, energy and water conservation, packaging and landscaping.

10a If you are entering the Sustainability Category, please address the following criteria:-

• Describe what your business has planned in order to achieve the sustainable business practices necessary for your business now and into the future..
• Describe the processes necessary to achieve the outcomes required.
• Describe the benefits that have accrued from your operations as a sustainable business.

Tips: Judges are looking to understand how you will maintain viability for your business with the external pressure of the every changing business environment. Considerations such as carbon footprint reduction, waste management, recycling water management, energy savings, use of bio degradable material, greening your area, etc. What is the impact on your business by implementing your sustainability plans now and into the future?