Cobar’s best businesses were recognised at the Cobar Business Association’s biennial Great Cobar Business Awards ceremony held at Cobar Bowling & Golf Club last Friday. KML Industries (main picture) took out the major award for Excellence in Business. Other winners (pictured right) included Face Contracting, who were named Cobar’s Employer of Choice; Copper City Hotel (Emerging Business Encouragement Award) and Shane Suridge from Copper City Tyre Service took home the Young Employee awards.
After almost 31 years in business, KML Industries has proved it still has a winning business formula taking out the Excellence in Business Award at the 2019 Great Cobar Business Awards on Friday night at the Cobar Bowling & Golf Club.
The judges commended KML Industries on continuously offering new product lines and their courage, commitment, drive and determination to run a very successful business.
Face Contracting finished as the runner-up to KML but won the 2019 Employer of Choice.
The judges were impressed with Face’s company values and their life coaching program they offer to their employees.
“Face demonstrates that you’re not just a number, you’re a part of a family and a team,” the judges commented.
The 2019 Excellence in Small Business (less than 10 employees) category winner was Anni’s Arts and Crafts.
The judges commented Anni’s was a visually exciting business with an extensive product range that appealed to local residents and tourists. They also applauded Anni’s business growth over the past two years.
Wendy Anderson’s Family Day Care was the runner-up in the Excellence in Small Business category with Wendy’s service receiving excellent reviews from her clients.
Cobar Mining Contractors (CMC) took out the Business Solution category this year.
The judges said CMC had shown excellent performance in market growth, business development, customer satisfaction and expanding their product range.
KML Industries was the runner-up in this category with the judges commending KML on branching out into hardware to fill a need and gap in the local market
The 2019 Emerging Business Encouragement Award went to the Copper City Hotel, a brand new business that has only been operating since November 2018, with the judges praising their business marketing efforts.
Cobar Business Association president Sharon Harland said a focus for this year’s awards were young people in business as the committee had noticed in past years that young people were under-represented.
“It’s said all the time, but young people are our future and we need them to be part of our business future. With the rapid pace that technology is moving at these days, the way young people quickly embrace, understand and use it, we absolutely need young people in our business community to ensure that we grow and don’t get left behind,” Mrs Harland said.
“And as a business association, that’s what we want to see in our business community, businesses thriving.
“A strong thriving retail sector has flow on effects to our trade services and provides more jobs and enables businesses to sponsor our sporting clubs and charity groups. It makes for a prosperous community,” she said.
This year the association had two dedicated categories to recognise the achievements of young people in business.
Eden Coughlan, owner of the Copper City Dance Centre, won the Young Business Person award. Eden was chosen by the judges for her passion for her business and they applauded the thoughtful planning she has put in to grow her business in a niche market.
Shane Suridge, an employee of Copper City Tyre Service, collected the 2019 Young Employee Award, with the judges impressed by the pride and attitude Shane takes in his work and his continued growth to upskill.
Rohan Barling, a second year boilermaker apprentice with KML Industries, who thrives on challenges he is presented with at work, was named Young Employee runner-up and KML’s first year boilermaker apprentice, Haymish McLeod, who is quickly picking up the trade, was Highly Commended in this category.
A special award was presented to another young person, Taylor Hooker, who has volunteered his time in a number of local businesses.
