The Cobar Business Association has once again welcomed the sponsorship of New Gold Peak Gold Mines and Glencore CSA Mine for their annual Great Cobar Business Awards.
Brien Obray, CSA Mine’s human resources superintendent, said he believes the awards help to bring a level of professional recognition to local businesses.
“CSA Mine recognises that in order to help attract new employees and retain the local employees already living in our community the town needs to be serviced by a variety of business that will help the community thrive,” Mr Obray said.
Peak’s environment and social responsibility superintendent Chris Higgins said the association and the awards are a “critical part of developing local businesses, especially in remote towns such as Cobar, and local businesses are a critical part of our community”.
Cobar Business Association president Sharon Harland said it was fantastic to have the support of two of the town’s major employers who recognised the value of the business awards.
“While first and foremost people go into a business to make money, many of our local business owners genuinely take pride in what they do and are keen to provide the very best service or product they can,” Mrs Harland said.
“I think it’s important to recognise the efforts of both business owners and their employees who go ‘above and beyond’ to provide us with an outstanding service or product.”
Mrs Harland said she was pleased that this year’s awards will also have a focus on recognising local businesses’ contributions to the community with the new Community Spirit award.
“If people are involved with a local sporting or community group that’s received the support from a local business through cash or in-kind donations, then we’d love for you to nominate them for the Community Spirit award.
“While there will be no winner of this category, it’s one way of recognising local businesses who are supporting our community.”
Mrs Harland said a number of new award categories have been created this year.
“While some categories are unchanged from previous years, we have introduced a few new categories this year in an effort to encourage more local businesses to enter.”
This year’s categories are: Retail; Personal services; Professional services; Tourism and hospitality; Industrial; New business; Business marketing; Community spirit; Cobar’s Favourite Tradie; Apprentice (3rd or 4th year); Trainee; Customer service; and Invaluable employee.
“We believe there should be a category in there that will suit every local business to recognise their hard work and achievements,” Mrs Harland said.
