SYDNEY BY KAYAK BETTER BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2023

What a night we had at the 7th Better Business Partnership Awards on the evening of Thursday 8 June 2023 at the Glasshouse in Artarmon. Approximately 120 attendees including local elected representatives including Federal Member for North Sydney Kylea Tink and Member for Willoughby, Tim James, joined the finalist businesses to celebrate and recognise the achievements of the best local businesses who exemplify sustainability in their respective industries across the Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney and Willoughby City Council areas. Out of 34 local small business finalists, the winners and highly commended runners-up in 8 diverse categories were announced.

As the MC announced the winners and highly commended some of the judges insights were shared to highlight the achievements that stood out amongst the submissions.

A new category was announced this year, Purpose and Impact. This new category captures those unique businesses that are born out of a singular passion and purpose, sustainability or socially driven. They do not fall within traditional business categories and above all they punch above their weight in measured impact with their chosen purpose.

Environmental celebrity Jo Taranto from Good for the Hood was MC for the evening while special guest Adam Axford, Magician and Wordsmith entranced and amazed the audience with an awe-inspiring performance.

See below for the Winners and Highly Commended by Category.

BETTER BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2023

WINNER SYDNEY BY KAYAK

HIGHLY COMMENDED LAURIE GREEN GROW GATHER GRAZE

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 2023

WINNER LAURIE GREEN GROW GATHER GRAZE

RUNNER-UP FLAT ROCK BREW CAFE

RETAIL SERVICES

WINNER EVOKE

HIGHLY COMMENDED SHED ELEVEN

LEISURE AND VENUES

WINNER SYDNEY BY KAYAK

HIGHLY COMMENDED STERLING RESULTS FITNESS CLUB

CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING

WINNER KU WEST PYMBLE PRESCHOOL

HIGHLY COMMENDED LADY GAME COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN

PURPOSE AND IMPACT

WINNER LAURIE GREEN GROW GATHER GRAZE

HIGHLY COMMENDED WILDKIDS AUSTRALIA

RETAIL PRODUCTS

WINNER KOSKELA

HIGHLY COMMENDED SwapUP

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND COMMUNITY

WINNER NORTH SYDNEY COMMUNITY CENTRE

HIGHLY COMMENDED TOMbag

FOOD SERVICES

WINNER THE STEAM ENGINE

HIGHLY COMMENDED BLEND CAFE

OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

WINNER RISK EDGE

HIGHLY COMMENDED POP THIS!

PHOTO ALBUM OF BETTER BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

TABLES OF PEOPLE AT AWARDS 2023 Photos of the Better Business Awards 2023. Thanks to our wonderful photographer GAVIN LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHER.

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2023 Finalists and Winners

Announcing Finalists, Winners and Highly Commended in the 2023 Sustainable Better Business Awards! We had 8 categories in this year’s awards including a brand new category created by the Judges. The new category is called Purpose and Impact. Congratulations to the Winners and Highly Commended!

Retail Product

Product based business, both in store and online only
WINNER Koskela
HIGHLY COMMENDED SwapUp
French Affair
Neo Organic Tea/Teascapes Australia

Food Services

Includes cafes, take-away outlets, restaurants and catering business serving fresh food
WINNER The Steam Engine
HIGHLY COMMENDED Blend Cafe
Flat Rock Brew Cafe
Green Moustache
Best Bagel Co

Office Based Professional

Office based (including home-based) professional services

WINNER Risk Edge
HIGHLY COMMENDED Pop This
Simplex Engineering
Confluence Water – North Delivery

Leisure and Venues

Includes venues, function centres, gyms, music /yoga schools and personal trainers

WINNER Sydney by Kayak
HIGHLY COMMENDED Sterling Results Fitness Club
Creative Sounds Studio and School
North Sydney Yoga

Childcare and Early Learning

Childcare centres, early learning and early childhood education

WINNER KU West Pymble Preschool
HIGHLY COMMENDED Lady Game Community Kindergarten
Chatswood Early Learning Centre
Daystars Killara
Devonshire Street Childrens Centre
Farran Street Quality Childcare

Social Enterprise and Community

Includes social enterprise businesses, community and not-for-profit groups

WINNER North Sydney Community Centre
HIGHLY COMMENDED TOMbag
Boomerang Bags Ku-ring-gai
Ku-ring-gai Neighbourhood Centre

PURPOSE AND IMPACT

A unique business started for purpose and having great impact

WINNER Laurie Green / Grow Gather Graze
HIGHLY COMMENDED WildKids Australia
Be SEEDsational

Retail Services

Services provided directly to customers

WINNER Evoke
HIGHLY COMMENDED Shed Eleven
Castle Cove Family Dental
West Pymble Pharmacy

Meet our Judges

Saxon Wright Pablo & Rusty's / Huskee

Saxon is the Founder/Director of Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters and co-founder /CEO of Huskee, a design business utilising coffee and consumer waste. He has a background in chemistry and sports science, has been a World Barista Championship judge and a recipient of the NSW Green Globe and Australian Good Design Award. Huskee was recently awarded the Australian Circular Economy’s inaugural award and P&R a previous BBP Winner. He is passionate about sustainability and seeing how business can be part of the solution to some of our larger environmental issues. Saxon is also passionate about and is involved in projects including regenerative farming, food systems, waste management and software development.

Sarah Turner 4 Pines Brewing Company

Sarah Turner has been working with 4 Pines Beer for 14 years in a variety of different roles, now the Environmental & Social Impact Advisor she manages 4 Pines Brew Better Ethos, which includes 1% for the Planet management and B Corp Certification across both hospitality & brewing operations.

Sarah is VP of non-profit organization Pink Boots Society Australia & facilitates a program that contributes to greater gender diversity within the Australian beer industry.

Sarah has recently moved to Gumbaynggirr Country (Valla, NSW), when she’s not in the garden you’ll find her exploring the local beaches, bush & rainforest.

Ed McPeake Northern Beaches Council

Ed heads up the Greener Communities Team at Northern Beaches Council – Focusing on environmental volunteering, sustainability education & engagement in the community with schools, residents & businesses. Ed has held a number of roles in Local Government with over 20 years’ experience. One of his Team’s most recent achievements and a first for NSW, is appointing a facilitator to aggregate a 100% Renewable Power Purchase Agreement for Northern Beaches Businesses. Ed’s work has also taken him overseas to East Timor and Papua New Guinea facilitating sustainable community action planning & permaculture projects.

Judging Criteria and Scores

The judges will be comparing the submissions in within each category based on these 4 broad categories and scoring.

1. Sustainable Philosophy (15/100)

How does the business embed sustainability within the business? Does the business (organisation or individual owner as may be the case) have a sustainable philosophy and mindset? Include here any 3rd party accreditations or certification

2. Sustainable Achievements (60/100)

What sustainable initiatives or achievements has the business implemented – a special project implemented in the business, or the achievement of what the business does itself.

Challenges and Measurement – What challenges did you overcome in implementing this initiative? Can you report on any measurable results from the initiative: reduction in energy (KWT), water (KLtr) waste Kgs diverted from landfill

3. Influencing others (20/100)

In what ways does the business try to influence others – customers, staff, and the broader community – to adopt sustainable ways? What impact does your business have on its stakeholders? Does the organisation have any opportunity to cross pollinate what is achieved in one site to other sites or other businesses / franchisees? Is it leveraging any potential to transform at an industry level?

4. Future Plans (5/100)

What has the business indicated it will do in the near to medium term future? Is there scope to undertake these plans? Please detail any concrete plans and proof of initial steps to bring future plans to fruition.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Business must be operating within one of BBP’s partner council areas:

Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney and Willoughby City.

2. Finalists must have a current accreditation with BBP by 30 May 2023*

*Businesses who submit and are accepted as finalists may be accredited by a BBP program manager and have a valid BBP Accreditation certificate by 30 May 2023

Contact BBP for more information

BETTER BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS 2021!

The Better Business Awards were last held in June 2021, celebrating the local businesses who exemplify sustainability in their respective industries across the Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney and Willoughby City Council areas.

BETTER BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2021

SESSIONS HAIRDRESSING

North Sydney Mayor, Jilly Gibson presented the 2021 Better Business of the Year Award to Sessions Hairdressing – a boutique sustainable hair salon owned by Nicole Inskip. “Nicole is a leader in sustainability, not only locally but within her industry. It was inspiring to hear that her business, Sessions Hairdressing, is the first in Australia to be BCorp certified. I congratulate Nicole and her team for their wonderful achievements.”

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

THE UNIFORM EXCHANGE

The People’s Choice Award as voted by the public was given to The Uniform Exchange – a second hand uniform shop based in Pymble whose goal is to ensure no uniform or text book ends up in landfill. The public got behind their favourite businesses with over 1700 votes in total placed.