Rudds Consulting named ACT business of the year
A building services engineering business that practices what it preaches in reducing the environmental impact of construction activity was named the 2013 Telstra ACT Business of the Year in Canberra last night.
The ACT Minister for Education and Training, Joy Burch MLA presented the award to Rudds Consulting Engineers with Group Managing Director, Telstra Business and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador, Will Irving.
Rudds Consulting Engineers, which custom-designed its energy-neutral head office in Fyshwick to demonstrate the latest in energy efficient technology and ideas to its customers, also took out the Medium Business Award.
The business has provided electrical and mechanical services for major commercial projects in the ACT including the new Canberra Airport terminal and the City West Offices which house the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The City West Offices is the only major Six Star Green Star building in Canberra’s CBD.
The owners of Rudds Consulting, Lou Forner and Andrew Beattie, are firm believers in providing innovative engineering solutions to clients by integrating state-of-the-art technologies that increase safety, lowers energy consumption and operating costs.
“We help companies focus on environmentally friendly building practices and show them that using green building methods can improve their bottom line,” said Andrew Beattie.
“We would love for others to follow suit with sustainable building design and push the envelope in regard to new technologies.”
Chris Taylor, Telstra Country Wide Area General Manager for the ACT, said Rudds Consulting Engineers was a ground-breaking business with a strong track record on high-profile local projects and premises.
“Judges commended Rudds Consulting Engineers for its proven record in developing innovative technologies for safety and efficiency.
“The company’s impressive commitment to staff development and growth, through their philosophy of lifelong learning to create engineers of the future, also helped secure their win.”
Other award winners from the building sector included Residential Reports, a one-stop-shop for presale building and pest inspection reports, and Canberra Furnished Accommodation, a provider of furnished modern residential apartments in central Canberra locations.
Shop Handmade Canberra, a retail store which showcases local handcrafted wares and promotes Canberra as a creative arts community, received the Start-Up Business Award.
Chris Taylor said the Telstra Australian Business Awards were launched in 1992 to recognise the achievements of small and medium businesses and to share their growth ideas and strategies to benefit all Australian businesses.
“We are thrilled each year to learn about businesses that innovate, persevere and thrive, even through tough economic conditions, and I encourage people in Canberra to nominate businesses now for the 2014 awards,” said Mr Taylor.
The winners of the 2013 Telstra ACT Business Awards announced tonight in Canberra are:
Telstra ACT Business of the Year
Rudds Consulting Engineers, Fyshwick
Start-Up Award
Shop Handmade Canberra, Canberra
Stemming from a quarterly Handmade Market in Canberra city, Shop Handmade was launched in 2010 as a more permanent location to showcase Canberra’s Handcrafted wares. Judges praised the great shopping experience which offered customers something different. Shop Handmade’s strong community spirit and the demand from suppliers to showcase their products made the business stand out from the crowd.
Micro Business Award
Canberra Furnished Accommodation, Braddon
A provider of modern residential apartments, custom designed with quality furniture and equipment for short term accommodation. Judges applauded the financial risks taken to launch Canberra Furnished Accommodation and commended the very comfortable and impressive property portfolio held by this business.
Small Business Award
Residential Reports, Hughes
Father and daughter team, Lindsay Collison and Kelly Hill, established this one stop shop service provider of presale building and pest inspection reports in 2004. Judges praised the business for their diversification strategy, having seen a gap in the market and changing their business offerings to meet this need. They were also impressed by the well qualified and family friendly nature of the team.
Medium Business Award
Rudds Consulting Engineers, Fyshwick
Note to Editors:Winners of the Telstra ACT Business Awards will be judged against category winners from other states and territories in the lead up to the national Telstra Australian Business Awards to be announced in Sydney on 22 August. Winners of the 2013 Awards will share in more than $500,000 in cash and business products, which is split among state, territory and national winners.
For more information about the Award winners, or to nominate for the 2014 Telstra Australian Business Awards, visit the Telstra Business Awards website.