Episode 109

Should I Enter Business Awards?

Published on: 26th July, 2026

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If you've ever wondered whether entering business awards is worth the time, effort and investment, this episode is for you.

Hello and welcome to this week's episode of The Australian Small Business Show.

Business awards can be a powerful way to build credibility, generate publicity and open doors for your Australian small business, but not every award is worth entering. In this episode we explore the real value of business awards, the different types of awards available, and how to determine whether they're the right fit for your business growth strategy.

We share our own experiences of entering, winning and learning from business awards over the years, including the networking opportunities, marketing benefits and business credibility that can come from recognised and respected awards. We also discuss the importance of choosing awards with genuine merit, rather than those that simply require you to pay for recognition, and why the application process itself can be a valuable business exercise.

If you've been asking yourself "Should I enter business awards, and how do I choose the right ones?" this episode will help you understand what to look for, how to prepare a strong application, and how business awards can become part of your broader PR and marketing strategy for your Australian small business.

Key Takeaways:

  • How to decide whether business awards are the right opportunity for your business.
  • The difference between credible awards and "pay-to-play" award programs.
  • Why respected business awards can strengthen your marketing, reputation and customer trust.
  • How the application process can help you identify strengths and gaps within your business.
  • Practical tips for selecting the right award categories and preparing a compelling submission.

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Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

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About the Podcast

The Australian Small Business Show
The Australian Small Business Show has been created by small business owners, for small business owners.

Your hosts Matt Heighway and Kristy-Lee Billett, who have both been running businesses for over 15 years, will bring our first hand experiences to offer insights, advice and inspiration to help you build a successful small business.

Each week we’ll discuss one specific strategy, topic, resource or tip that’s relevant for every small business, and we’ll be inviting along some amazing guests and friends in business to share their expertise with you.

Whether you're starting out, scaling up or a seasoned small business owner, this Australian Small Business Show is the show for you.

About your hosts

Kristy-Lee Billett

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Kristy is a nationally recognised HR expert, passionate small business advocate, podcast host, mum, wife, beach lover and runner.

She has spent more than 20 years now working in the field of Human Resources, People Management and Recruitment.

For the last 10 years she has dedicated herself to exclusively supporting small to medium sized businesses, those who employ less than 100 staff with all aspects of their HR, recruitment, people management and resource structures.

She founded her first business in 2006, and today she continues to direct this business, which is now known as People Powered Business.

Today She loves working with businesses inside our People Powered HR community to help them gain the knowledge, tools and resources to handle absolutely anything when it comes to their teams, with complete confidence.

Matt Heighway

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Matt is a CPA who has been working with business owners in multiple capacities for well over two decades. After commencing his career as an Accountant and Business Adviser, his own national start-up won numerous business awards and was featured in BRW fast 100. Since the business sold, he has been working with small-medium business owners helping them with business growth strategies and holistic business coaching.

Matt also is the Director of Lifetime SMSF, an accounting practice that specialises in Self-Managed Super Funds. Helping Australians manage their retirement nest eggs has been a lifelong project for Matt and he continues to get joy from helping.

Matt is a lifelong learner who loves to chat with other business owners. he is passionate about small business and always wants to see them win. He is at his best when things need turning around though, and gets his motivation helping small business owners come back from a set back.