Small business awards showcase multicultural entrepreneurs in Melbourne’s north

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Northern Multicultural Small Business Awards.

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Northern Multicultural Small Business Awards. First held in 2016, the awards showcase the extraordinary contribution of business operators from a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker background in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, in the Cities of Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra.

The awards are a partnership initiative of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Small Chilli Marketing, City of Yarra and Business Victoria.

Rebecca Pinney-Meddings, Stepping Stones to Small Business Program Manager at the Brotherhood of St Laurence and co-founder of the awards says “Our first two award ceremonies in 2016 and 2017 were so inspiring, and the awards have grown bigger and more exciting each year. The award categories highlight businesses that promote multiculturalism and gender equality.”

Stepping Stones to Small Business is a Brotherhood of St Laurence program that aims to educate migrant and refugee women about how to start a small business in Australia. “I was particularly proud to see one of our ‘Stepping Stones’ graduates receive an award in 2017,” says Rebecca.

Effie Cinanni, Small Chilli Marketing Director and co-founder of the awards, explains, “The awards seek to promote both economic and community participation of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We are thrilled that previous award winners such as Motorsport Distributors group have used this success as a platform to help grow their businesses internationally.”

Award categories for this year include ‘Most promising new business’, ‘Business Excellence’, ‘Multicultural Impact’, ‘Women’s Small Business Champion’ and ‘Most Promising Stepping Stones Graduate’.

Award nominations close on 20 September 2019. The awards ceremony is being hosted by City of Yarra at Amora Riverwalk Hotel in Richmond on Wednesday 30 October 2019.

To find out more about the award categories and eligibility criteria visit www.nmsba.com.au