Symbio Wildlife Park has been named Illawarra Business of the Year for the second time in three years.
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The small family run zoo picked up the customer service and tourism awards, as well as a highly commended in the excellence in business category before being named business of the year.
It's not the first time Symbio has enjoyed such a run of recognition.
In 2017 it was named Illawarra Business of the Year after picking up awards for excellence in business, innovation and tourism and Young Business Executive of the Year for having marketing manager Kevin Fallon. The following year, Symbio won the sustainability award.
The Radnidge family acquired the business in 2000 because of their passion for animal conservation and were soon recognised with zoological industry awards.
A steady growth in visitor numbers has come from developing up-close-and-personal experiences and continuing to build large industry-leading exhibits suitable for international breeding programs to save endangered species.
Recent investments include the introduction of a new splash park and playground last summer.
Among the other winners on Friday were enterprises in the knowledge services sector.
They included software development company FinoComp being recognised as Employer of Choice. It provides a range of microservices for the global wealth management industry. FinoComp employs 40 staff including 35 in three old buildings in Jamberoo. It will open another office in Smith St, Wollongong next Friday.
Easy Agile took out the Wollongong City Centre Business Excellence Award after doubling in size this year while helping clients around the world work smarter.
allcare was named Startup Superstar after developing innovative ways to help people age in their own homes. And allcare co-founder Christopher Murphy was named Outstanding Young Entrepreneur.
Flagstaff Group was recognised in the Social Enterprise and the Workplace Inclusion categories. The Outstanding Business Leader was David Hiscox, of Dapto Leagues Club, Ashleigh Berry, of Kells, was named Young Employee of the Year. And RMB Lawyers won the Excellence in Business Award.
Illawarra Business Chamber executive director Adam Zarth said there were 69 finalists in the 17 award categories at the 25th annual IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards.
He said 12 of the winners will now go on to represent the region at the NSW Business Chamber State Awards on November 22.
In 2018 the Corrimal Chamber of Commerce & Industry went on to win a NSW Business Award for Chambers of Commerce.
2019 Illawarra Business Award winners
IMB Bank Business of The Year
- Winner: Symbio Wildlife Park
Customer Service
- Winner: Symbio Wildlife Park
Local Chamber of Commerce
- Winner: Corrimal Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Innovation
- Winner: IRT Group
Sustainability
- Winner: Green Connect
Export
- Winner: Aceit Sportswear
- Highly Commended: FinoComp
Start Up Superstar
- Winner: All Care Health Services Group
Tourism
- Winner: Symbio Wildlife Park
Wollongong City Centre Business Excellence
- Winner: Easy Agile
Workplace Inclusion
- Winner: The Flagstaff Group
Employer of Choice
- Winner: FinoComp
Social Enterprise
- Winner: The Flagstaff Group
Retail and Hospitality
- Winner: Cupitt's Winery
Micro Business
- Winner: Mt Hay Retreat
Excellence in Small Business
- Winner: J&T Dale Plumbing
Excellence in Business
- Winner: RMB Lawyers
- Highly Commended: Symbio Wildlife Park
Outstanding Young Employee
- Winner: Ashleigh Barry of Kells
- Highly Commended: Kay-Lea Edmistone of Quest Nowra
Outstanding Young Entrepreneur
- Winner: Christopher Murphy of All Care Health Services
Outstanding Business Leader
- Winner: David Hiscox of Dapto Leagues Club
- Highly Commended - John Lamont of Nowchem