Excellence awards night of nights

Home Instead is the LBW Business + Wealth Advisors Home Instead is the Geelong Business Excellence Awards Business of the Year. (supplied)

Home Instead Geelong is the 2021 LBW Business + Wealth Advisors Geelong Business Excellence Awards Business of the Year.

Established in 1986 and managed by Geelong Chamber of Commerce, the awards were held last night in a virtual event and recognised organisations that have achieved business excellence in the Geelong region.

Home Instead Geelong’s husband and wife team of Giovanni and Giselle Siano started the business and were keen to make a difference to the way that care is provided to seniors.

In less than three years, Home Instead Geelong now employs more than 200 people and delivers more than 12,200 hours of care each month to seniors.

Home Instead won three awards on the night. It also won Emerging Business and Mr Siano won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

“I have no words to describe the gratitude and thank you to all the sponsors for tonight for the Geelong Business Excellence Awards and to the Geelong Chamber of Commerce to make this great event happen,” Mr Siano said.

“I would like to express my immense gratitude to all my staff to be embarking on this amazing mission that we all share.

“Pushing through the challenges we have gone through the last three years has been an enormous challenge for everyone but we are getting through that.”

The overwhelming message from the night can be summed up in one word – “resilience”.

All award winners and nominees said that although the pandemic presented unique challenges, the resilience of staff and customers had shone through.

See Friday’s Geelong Independent for a full coverage of the Geelong Business Excellence Awards.

Winners:

Business of the Year (sponsored by LBW Business + Wealth Advisors): Home Instead

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Deakin University): Giovanni Siano, Home Instead

Sustainable Business Award (Barwon South West Waste & Resource Recovery Group: Kardinia International College

Medium to Large Business or Division/Department of a Business Award (EML): Custom Neon

Innovation, Research & Development (VIVA Energy Australia): FormFlow

Corporate Social Responsibility (genU): Coastyle Building Solutions

Safe & Healthy Business Award (WorkSafe Victoria): Avalon Airport Australia

Inclusive & Accessible Business Award (TAC): Geelong Gallery

Advanced Manufacturing & Industry Award (Geelong Manufacturing Council): Hanlon Industries

Hospitality & Tourism Award (Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine): The 18th Amendment Bar

Emerging Business (The Gordon): Home Instead Geelong

Small Business or Division Department of a Business Award (Bendigo Bank): Cabinets by Computer

Regional Business Award (Gartland Property Services): Adventure Park

Digital Engagement Award (WebForce 5): Sketch & Etch

Customer Service Award (Hardings Hardware): MoPA, Museum of Play and Art

Health & Wellbeing Promoting Workplace (Barwon Health): CentreStage

Home-based & Micro Business Award (City of Greater Geelong): Crew Faced Makeup Artistry

Retail Business Award (Roderick Insurance Brokers): You’re Gorgeous Hair & Beauty

Best First Year Entry (Harwood Andrews): Telstra Business Technology Centre Victoria West

Business Leader of the Year (Bay 93.9): Frances Diver, Barwon Health