Entering awards: Everyone is a winner!

Have you ever considered applying for an award, but stopped yourself short? Perhaps you thought that the time spent to complete the application was time wasted? Leading industry figures say the opposite; they believe time spent on applying for an award helps to make your business more sustainable. However, a win does have its benefits!

If you have ever considered applying for an award but stopped yourself short thinking it was time wasted, think again! Leading industry figures say that applying for an award will help your business grow, regardless of whether you win or not.
 

Plants Management Australia (PMA) are a plant licensing and marketing company based in Hobart, Tasmania. Over the last decade, PMA have received the Telstra Tasmanian Business of the Year Award, an AMP Innovation Award and an Australian Government Export Award.

Chris Sargent, Managing Director, says that applying for the Telstra Business Award enabled PMA to reflect on their business practises. “We had to put ourselves outside the box to identify what other things our business required to be sustainable and to be successful, and to allow us to look after our staff and clients,” says Chris, “As part of the application process, industry professionals and leaders looked over your application and gave you feedback and direction on how to improve yourself even further.”

“Winning these awards is a way of saying that we are recognized outside the circle and even the industry that we work in. It is not about the award; it is about what you do with the award and how you leverage that opportunity. We have really benefited out of that no end and doors have opened left, right and centre,” says Chris. One very important door that PMA was able to open was that of Ita Buttrose, who lent her support to PMA’s Dianthus ‘Memories’ program, raising awareness and funds for dementia research.

“Doors do not open unless you have got credibility,” says Chris, “People want to align with credibility and sustainability. I think awards give you all of that.”

Like Chris, Karen Brock is no stranger to awards. Karen is CEO and Owner of Brocklands Pty Ltd, a northern Tasmanian tissue culture nursery.

In 2014, Karen won a Nuffield Scholarship to investigate molecular assisted breeding of berry plants. Last year, Karen won the Tasmanian AgriFutures Rural Women's Award 2020 sponsored by Westpac.

State/territory winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award receive access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks, as well as a $10,000 bursary for innovative ideas and projects. “We are looking at the use of hydroponic systems to produce tissue culture in our laboratory, so we can get more plants in a smaller volume of space, thereby reducing our footprint,” says Karen of her award project She is also investigating agar-free growing media given growing environmental sustainability concerns associated with seaweed use.

Karen says that this award also gave her access to the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. “It has given me exposure to what I call the corporate world, in particular boards, and for marketing and pitching your product,” says Karen.

Estelle Cornell is the Managing Director of Allora Gardens, a multi-award-winning garden centre in Darwin. Estelle was the 2011 Telstra Business Woman of the Year (Northern Territory) and a Finalist in the Telstra Australian Business Awards in 2014.

“When I joined the nursery and garden industry years ago, I knew absolutely nothing. I came in totally green. Entering these awards really helped me step up over the years, especially those awards run by our industry,” says Estelle, “The industry sets a bar, and by setting the bar, it gets you to help work towards that.”

“I did not know how to write a submission. When I look back now, I think I should have employed somebody with that expertise. However, if I had done that back then, I would not have learnt and known what I know now,” Estelle continues, “I think if you are entering an award, it needs to come from you and your heart because no one knows your business better than what you do.”

Estelle says one of the greatest benefits received from winning these awards is the impact they have had on her staff members. “It inspires your team like you would not believe. They want to be winners too,” says Estelle. She adds that customers have also become engaged in the awards journey, with some feeling a stronger sense of connection with Allora Gardens. “Customers tell us that their friends are coming up north and they “have just got to bring them to 'my' garden centre”. They take ownership of it. We love that too!” Estelle explains.