Media Release, 25 June 2015

Top Territory businesses riding the wave of development and investing in local skills are among 14 finalists announced for the 2015 Telstra Northern Territory Business Awards.

The finalists are creating robust operations across many sectors including a strong representation from the building and construction industry, along with infrastructure, solar energy, plumbing and refrigeration, health services, tourism and hospitality, and retail.

Telstra Business Group Managing Director and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador Will Irving said the 14 finalists are leading new ways of working across the Northern Territory and that is sure to have positive long-term impacts for the region.

“It’s exciting to see these businesses looking for innovative ways to use technology, address skill shortages and stay competitive. With an emphasis on hiring locals, many are building on local opportunities and establishing a skilled workforce.

“The Telstra Business Awards reward innovation and celebrate the unwavering passion of Australia’s small and medium businesses. They have poured their savings into a dream of independence and doing what they love in their own way – and they are doing it exceptionally well,” Mr Irving said.

Among the finalists breaking new ground in servicing the Territory’s construction and infrastructure boom are:

  • Quality control services provider HiQA Geotechnical which tests materials for their strength and other properties for civil construction projects, including remote highways. Former laboratory manager and owner Luke Myall has high staff retention due to training home-grown technicians;
  • Dynamic Refrigeration Solutions, a specialist in commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for Darwin’s hospitality industry. Owner Jed Bahur counteracts a shortage of skilled tradespeople by providing apprenticeships and post graduate training for technicians;
  • Crane and labour hire company A.M. Cranes & Rigging, founded in 2008, which has a fleet of 27 cranes and a workforce that’s peaked at 115;
  • Northtech Solutions, a specialist fabrication business servicing industrial, marine and government projects;
  • Jetstream Electrical which serves domestic, commercial and industrial clients and provides remote area services such as pay-phones and wireless access installations on cattle stations; and
  • Sterling Management Services, manager of 69 Darwin residential developments and other buildings.

Several finalists are also overcoming recruitment and retention challenges in regional centres. These include Katherine-based health practice Gorge Health Services which place strong emphasis on staff orientation, training and support, as well as Darwin’s waterfront Mexican restaurant Hot Tamale which is addressing difficulties in attracting trained staff by building processes to upskill its employees and recruiting an experienced TAFE hospitality teacher as operations manager.

The Telstra Business Awards were established in 1992 to celebrated brilliant Australian small and medium businesses. Winners of the 2015 Telstra NT Business Awards will be announced at the Darwin Convention Centre on 3 July. NT winners proceed to the national Awards held in Sydney on 20 August.

Finalists for the 2015 Telstra NT Business Awards are:

Start-Up Award

Hot Tamale, Darwin
Plumbing NT Pty Ltd, Yarrawonga

Micro Business Award

Gorge Health Services, Katherine
NT Phone Repairs, Darwin
Stepping Stones In Life Therapy Service, Millner

Small Business Award
Dynamic Refrigeration Solutions, Winnellie
HiQA Geotechnical, Winnellie
Northtech Solutions, Darwin
Sterling Management Systems, Darwin
The Furry Godmother Pet Resort, Darwin Airport
Top End Short Stays, Winnellie

Medium Business Award

A.M. Cranes & Rigging, Winnellie
Country Solar NT, Darwin
Jetstream Electrical, Winnellie

Awards information and tickets to the NT Gala Dinner can be purchased by visiting telstrabusinessawards.com or by calling 1800 AWARDS between 9am and 7pm AEST Monday to Friday.