Spotlighting Waverley’s brightest and best businesses

28 August 2024 | Council News

If you run a business in the Waverley LGA, keep reading: entries for this year’s Brightest & Best Business Awards 2024 are now open and close on Monday, September 9. To enter, visit Brightest & Best Business Awards.

Here’s how we select the winners: Finalists are selected by a panel of Council, business and community representatives. If your business is short-listed for the awards, you’ll then get an anonymous visit or call from a ‘mystery shopper’ appointed by Waverley Council, which runs the awards.

The mystery shopper gives a rating based on marketing and communication, community engagement and customer service to determine the winners.

It culminates in the Awards Night on Monday, 25 November, when the winners take the stage at the Bondi Pavilion theatre to receive their awards from the Mayor.

This year there will be 14 award categories, including a new People’s Choice award, which will be voted on by members of the public once the finalists are announced in October.

The categories are Retail & E-Commence:

  • Hospitality & Entertainment
  • Professional Services; Healthcare & Medical
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Beauty & Wellbeing
  • Creative & Digital
  • Childcare & Education
  • Sustainability Excellence
  • Construction & Trade
  • Tourism & Leisure
  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Business Woman of the Year
  • People of the Year.

In the last financial year, Waverley businesses conducted more than 40 million transactions, representing a total of $3.1 billion spent. The awards are a well-deserved accolade.

Craig Gill, Waverley Council’s Business Liaison Advisor, said the competition and awards night bring together the Waverley business community to recognise and celebrate business excellence, and the vital contributions businesses make towards creating a vibrant community to live, work, and shop.

“This event gives our local businesses a platform to showcase the very best of what they do,” said Mr Gill.

Finalists for the awards (last year there were 62) are invited to the ceremony at the Pavilion and the list of winners is kept secret until being announced on the night. Winners receive trophies made from crafted timber, plus both winners and runners-up receive in-kind prizes and cash vouchers from event sponsors and Waverley Council.

Event sponsors include The Ascott Limited, Westfield Bondi Junction, Richardson & Wrench Bondi Beach, Bondi & Districts Chamber of Commerce, Bondi Innovation, Eastside Radio, Bondi Golf Club, Dive Centre Bondi, Lets Go Surfing, The Roosters, Service NSW and The Beast.