Steel Blue has taken home the major award as Western Australian Business of the Year at Business News’ annual RISE Business Awards.
The work and safety footwear manufacturer, founded in 1995, also won Medium Business of the Year award, which recognises businesses with between 30 and 100 full-time staff.
The other finalists in this category included Complete Home Filtration, Cirrus8, Motium and Citadel Medical.
The RISE awards function was hosted at the Crown Perth Grand Ballroom on Thursday evening over a formal dinner, in front of nearly 700 people.
Large Business of the Year was won by Mader Group, the category in which the ASX-listed heavy equipment and infrastructure maintenance company was a 2021 finalist.
Mader, which was ajudged Employer of the Year at the 2021 awards, took first place as large business ahead of fellow finalists Best Bar Reinforcements, PARC Engineering, Westforce Construction and Revo Fitness.
Small Business of the Year was awarded to digital marketing platform Signifi Media ahead strong competition from Regen Power, Plico Energy, Westsun Solar and Perspektiv Australia.
Civil and mining services company RE:GROUP Australia took home Regional Business of the Year in a category including Geographe French Australian Festivals Incorporated, Jetwave Marine Services, Tate Wine and Kimberley Country.
Meanwhile, Startup of the Year was won by Natraplas for its range of eco-friendly and fully compostable food packaging products. Fellow finalists in this category included Space Collective Architects, Core Off-Road, Diamond Collective and Acknowledge This.
Regional retailer Kimberley Country emerged as Micro Business of the Year followed closely by LiveMine Solutions, Acacia, Perth Is OK! and Creighan Holdings.
Not For Profit/Charity of the Year was won by Foodbank WA ahead of fellow finalists Guide Dogs WA, Saint Patrick's Community Support Centre, Lifeline WA and Regional Early Education and Development Incorporation.
Employer of the Year was awarded to mining services company Schlam, taking first place ahead of Youth Lab Itch Group, IMDEX Limited and Paramount Power.
The judging panel included 19 of Western Australia’s business leaders: Mark Beyer, Robbie Campbell, Bernard Chia, Sean Cowan, David Dawson, Lorissa Kelly, Bhavesh Kotecha, Kerry Milne, Mark Newman, Justin Nuich, Chiara Pacifici, Chris Page, Mark Pownall, Lisa Ravlich, Aurélien Scannella, Janet Simmons, Krystal Skinner, Matteo Tirapelle and Johnny Van Der Wielen.
Judges for the awards were required to abstain from voting if they had been involved with any of the entrants.
STARTUP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Natraplas
MICRO BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Kimberley Country
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Signifi Media
MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Steel Blue
LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Mader Group
NOT FOR PROFIT/CHARITY OF THE YEAR: Foodbank WA
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR: Schlam
REGIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: RE:GROUP Australia
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Steel Blue
