Small businesses battle it out to be crowned Australia’s top tradies

Trades-based small businesses from across the country are duking it out in August to take home the coveted Trade Awards trophy.

It’s no secret it’s been a bumpy beginning to 2024 for the average Aussie tradie. From pay outrages and builder scams to recent union scandals and those honestly brilliant videos of concreters tearing up unpaid work, there have been plenty of headlines doing the rounds painting a bad name for the construction industry.

But next month’s Trades Small Business Champion Awards are hoping to turn things around by recognising the hard-working men and women behind the tools working their asses off to do right by their customers and build a better industry.

Spanning all capital cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns, the awards (and its expert panel of independent judges) will be looking for the businesses doing it best, taking into account hundreds of different criteria like approaches to sustainability, customer service and community support.

With a huge number of the two million tradies actively working in Australia branching out on their own as small business owners, Awards founder Steve Loe said it was a tall order to narrow it down to just a few finalists.

“The overall quality of submissions received this year is very high, so the ultimate formation of our 2024 shortlist was no easy task for our judges,” explained Loe.

“The Australian trades sector is arguably amongst the most complex, but it’s also among the most resilient and certainly hardworking.

“It’s truly a privilege to help spotlight those who are demonstrating excellence in their trade and encouraging future generations of Aussie tradies too.”

Out of the thousands of entries, judges have cut down the finalists to just under a hundred names – all of which will be strutting their stuff down the red carpet at Sydney’s The Star on August 23rd to battle it out for the Champions trophy across one of 50 categories.

While a night of glitz and glam might be a far cry from the usual high-vis attire you would spy on the job site, Mr Loe said it was important the industry appreciates the tradies setting the standard.

“A career in trades typically means long days and exhausting labour; and for owners, this is in addition to all the pressures that come with running a small business,” he said.

“It can be a taxing career and those who perform to a high standard ought to be acknowledged – which is what the Trade Awards is all about.”

Along with the coveted Champion Tradie trophy, five different honours will also be dished out amongst the 50 trade categories on show, including Apprentice Champion, Small Business Trades Entrepreneur, Young Small Business Trades Entrepreneur and Trades Champion Leader.