Summer 2022

Sunshine Coast Business Awards: Business at its Best!

The very best businesses on the Sunshine Coast and in Noosa were recognised at the 2022 Sunshine Coast Business Awards (SCBA). SCBA Chair Jennifer Swaine shares the highlights of the night.

There are many things I love about the Sunshine Coast but perhaps one of the things that I love the most is our business community.

We are blessed with a talented, innovative and diverse group of people and businesses whose passion and commitment never ceases to amaze me.

And on Saturday 12 November more than 850 of them filled the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, in what was once again a sold-out event, to celebrate the very best businesses from right across the region at the annual Sunshine Coast Business Awards (SCBA).

There is very good reason that the Sunshine Coast has earned the reputation as being the entrepreneurial capital of Australia. With more than 40,000¹  registered businesses in the region, small business is one of the foundations on which our economy is built.

Some would say that we have evolved this way simply because people needed to create work opportunities. But what we created in the process was a connected, collaborative, supportive business community that promotes innovation and entrepreneurialism.

As the Chair of the SCBA, I get to see and hear first hand many of these outstanding businesses who all have unique and inspiring stories.

This year, we again attracted a large number of applicants, with 132 incredible businesses being chosen as a finalist. 

The calibre of the finalists was higher than it has ever been and many of our highly-qualified judges have since told me that they were blown away by the impressive entrepreneurialism and innovations that were presented to them.

This year there were 32 category winners including large and small businesses across 17 categories, three Hall of Fame inductees as well as the overall Business of the Year.

This year’s Sunshine Coast Business of the Year – Travis Schultz & Partners (TSP) is a leading compensation law firm based on the Sunshine Coast, with offices in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns. 

Their team is made up of highly regarded lawyers including six Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialists in Personal Injury Law. 

Travis Schultz has been working and giving back to the Sunshine Coast community for more than 25 years, since establishing this firm he has cultivated a team that is passionate and driven to make a difference to the lives of their clients and the wider community. TSP services clients across Queensland with their head office proudly based on the Sunshine Coast.

The 2022 SCBA Hall of Fame inductees are three businesses representing the best of the best, having won their categories for three consecutive years.

Being inducted into our Hall of Fame, acknowledges the hard work, dedication and resilience of the businesses involved and recognises the continuing advancements of the businesses from year-to-year as well as the efforts of those who put their awards applications together and participated in the process – sometimes for many more years than just those they won.

The 2022 Hall of Fame inductees include the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN); the Ginger Factory; and RACV Noosa Resort.

There are many people behind the year-long awards program that culminates in the Gala Dinner. It takes around 50 volunteers from the committee; 32 judges; and the additional team who help out on the night.

None of this would be possible without the support of the sponsors who get behind the awards year after year. Their ongoing commitment to the SCBA allows us to continue to grow these awards with passion, commitment, transparency and integrity for the benefit of all Sunshine Coast based businesses.

Congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners. Your contribution to our region, the people and the economy is significant and the reason we have rightfully taken the title as the ‘Entrepreneurial Capital of Australia’. 

^1. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, 2016 to 2021 Note: Non-employing businesses includes sole proprietors where the proprietor does not receive a wage or salary separate to the business income. .id (informed decisions)

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2022 WINNERS

The 2022 Sunshine Coast Business Awards winners are: 

Sunshine Coast 2022 Business of the Year

• Travis Schultz & Partners

Hall of Fame inductees

• The Food & Agribusiness Network (FAN)
• The Ginger Factory
• RACV Noosa Resort

Accommodation (Tourism)

• Large – Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters
• Small – Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat

Advanced Technology

• Large – GreaseBoss
• Small – Cérge

Building and Construction

• Large – Qspec Building Solutions
• Small – Becker Constructions

Clean Technology

• Large – Aussie Tiny Houses
• Small – Waste Free Systems

Creative Industries

• Large – Your Brand Crew
• Small – Raw Lens Media

Education and Training

• Large – Wildlings Forest School
• Small – Nikki Fogden-Moore The Mojo Maker

Experiences (Tourism)

• Large – Amaze World
• Small – Creative Tours

Export – Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment

Festivals and Events (Tourism)

• Large – Sunshine Coast Lightning
• Small – NOOSA Alive!

Food and Agribusiness

• Large – Maleny Dairies
• Small – Global Boss International

Health and Wellness

• Large – Sunny Street
• Small – PsychHelp

Hospitality

• Large – Bella Venezia Group
• Small – Kaali Gourmet Indian Restaurant

Manufacturing

• Large – Shipping Container Pools
• Small – First Light Fabrications

Professional Services

• Large – Travis Schultz & Partners
• Small – The Organised Creative

Retail

• Large – White’s IGA
• Small – Amplitude

Social Impact

• Large – Coast2Bay Housing Group
• Small – Stymie

Trades and Services

• Large – The Laundry Lady
• Small – Si Organics