Hera Engineering has won Western Australian Business of the Year at Business News’ annual RISE Business Awards.
The Subiaco-based company - which was founded by Matteo Tirapelle in 2015 - also took home the Small Business of the Year award, which recognises businesses with between 10 and 50 staff.
Fellow finalists in the category included Flex Fitness Equipment, Complete Home Filtration, Silverstone Recruitment and Asset Reliability Inspections.
The awards were presented at a cocktail function and formal dinner at the Crown Perth Grand Ballroom on Thursday evening, in front of a buzzing crowd of more than 700 people.
Large Business of the Year was won by earthmoving and construction plant hire business Brooks Hire Service after competing against strong finalists Capricorn Society, Perth Airport, Aquatic Leisure Technologies and Mader Group.
Despite missing out in the Large Business category, ASX-listed heavy equipment and infrastructure maintenance company Mader Group was voted Employer of the Year ahead of tough competition from Flex Fitness Equipment, HHG Legal Group, Hera Engineering and Pan Pacific Perth.
3D modelling, steel detailing and digital engineering company DBM Vircon Services Australia was Medium Business of the Award Winner in a field that included VenuesLive WA, Multiplan, Pentanet and Best Bar Reinforcements.
New award category, Regional Business of the Year, was won by EK Services Group for their trio of cleaning, security and property businesses based in the remote East Kimberley town of Kununurra.
Inaugural finalists for the category were Brida, IPS Management Consultants, Cindy Poole Glass Gallery and Asset Reliability Inspections.
Plico Energy was named Startup Business of the Year for its solar battery inverter technology, after facing tough competition from LiveMine Solutions, Natraplas, Kardan Construction and Cannaponics Limited.
Meanwhile, Flower Box Home Fragrance emerged as Micro Business of the Year in a category including Chronic Care Australia, Oban Group, Fliptease and Roys Sheds.
West Australian Ballet raised the barre and took home Not For Profit/Charity of the Year ahead of fellow finalists Carbon Positive Australia, Ear Science Institute Australia, Variety WA and Volunteering WA.
The judging panel included 19 of Western Australia’s business leaders: Mark Beyer, Jenny Allen, Peter K Bennett, Sean Cowan, Suzanne Dodds, Danielle Green, Brad Hill, Jess Karlsson, Mark Keogh, Bhavesh Kotecha, Paul McKiernan, Jason Nuttman, Nino Odorisio, Kelly Quirk, Jayden Rogers, Matt Ryan, Janet Simmons, Rebecca Tomkinson, Stephanie Unwin and Charlie Gunningham.
Judges for the awards were required to abstain from voting if they had been involved with any of the entrants.
REGIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: EK Services Group
STARTUP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Plico Energy
MIRCO BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Flower Box Home Fragrance
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Hera Engineering
MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: DBM Vircon Services Australia
LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Brooks Hire Service
NOT FOR PROFIT / CHARITY OF THE YEAR: West Australian Ballet
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR: Mader Group
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Hera Engineering
