Applications open for 2025 Small Business Champions

Applications are now open for the 2025 Small Business Champions awards.

The awards – now in their 27th year – feature more than 100 categories and will recognise Australia’s Small Business Champions. The program is open to all industries and free to enter, with applications closing on 10 February 2025.

The awards include 12 hospitality-based categories, including Best Café, Best Bakery, and Best Casual Dining Concept. 2024 winners in the hospitality categories include:

• Cooks Confectionery of Albion Park Rail in New South Wales won the Food Manufacturing award.
• Farrar & Sons Bakehouse based in Mayfield New South Wales won the 2024 Bakery category.
• Luna N Soul at Quinns Rock in Western Australia won the Café category.
• Kambalda Hotel in Western Australia was named winner of the Casual Dining category.
• Plenty Catering Co at Edwardstown in South Australia won the Catering Business category.
• Ripe Cheese based in Melbourne won the 2024 Fresh Food category.
• One Minute SNAXX from Yarrabilba in Queensland won the Health Food Business category.
• Pilu at Freshwater in NSW won the highly competitive Restaurant category.

Winners will be announced at two red-carpet gala events at The Star Sydney on 28 and 29 March 2025.

“Small businesses play a critical role in creating jobs and driving economic growth across a wide range of industries, often earning the title of the backbone of the national economy,” says Steve Loe, Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions.

“The Australian Small Business Champion Awards provide an invaluable opportunity for operators to have their work evaluated by an expert panel, gain industry recognition, and benchmark themselves against the best in their field.”

Among the program’s previous winners is Justin Vetsavong, CEO of Canberra-based Leaky Roof, who took home the 2024 Small Business Champion Entrepreneur Award.

“This honour not only recognises my personal achievements but also shines a light on the incredible team behind me,” says Justin.

Businesses from every corner of the nation – from regional hubs to capital cities – are encouraged to enter. Each winner receives a customised statuette trophy and certificate as a nationally recognised industry leader.