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.
Meet your finalists
The Builder – Large category:
- Ruby Homes (NSW)
- Five Star Builders and Granny Flats (NSW)
- Cubic Projects (NSW)
- Republic Building Co (NSW)
- Esteem Constructions (NSW)
- The Graff Group (NSW)
- Blossom Homes Developers (SA)
- Mode Group (VIC)
- Brickwood Homes (NSW)
- The Perfect Space (NSW),
The Builder – Medium category:
- Melaleuca Custom Designed Homes (NSW)
- Built Republic (NSW)
- Projects and Maintenance Squared (VIC)
- Acme Built (NSW), Varli Building (QLD)
- Black Leaf Building (NSW)
- Spoke Building and Interiors (NSW)
- Hill House Constructions (QLD)
- Muir Projects (NSW)
- Tailored Homes (NSW).
The Building Design category:
- Straightline Studio Co (NSW)
- Tekton Building Group (NSW)
- OwnerDeveloper (NSW)
- Green Ink Design Studio (NSW)
- FJA Designs (NSW).
The Concreter category:
- Amabile Brothers Concrete (NSW)
- Rebar Plus (NSW)
- Basements and Above Structures (VIC)
- Bayview Concreting (VIC).
The Roofing category:
- Leaky Roof (ACT)
- H&L Roofing Solutions (NSW)
- Executive Roof Services (NSW)
- Tomkat Roofing (NSW), JK Roof Tiling (VIC)
- H2 Patios (NSW)
- Roof Home Build Group (QLD),
The Pest Control category:
- Tropical Palms Pest Management (QLD)
- GC Pest Control (QLD)
- AllPro Pest Control (QLD)
- Andersen Pest Services (NSW)
- Joe’s Pest & Termite Solutions (NSW).
The Electrical Business – Large category:
- All Ground Electrical Services (QLD)
- Kenner Electrics (VIC)
- D Squared Electrical (VIC)
- Sorted Electrical (QLD)
- J&C Electrical Contracting (WA)
- Prolec Electrical, Heating & Cooling (QLD)
- Ampower Electrical Group (NSW)
- JDY Electrical (NSW)
- Terrigal Electrical Services (NSW)
- Adelaide Urban Electrical (SA)
- Just Electrical Sydney (NSW)
- Phoenix Energy (QLD)
- REPARE Electrical & Air Conditioning (QLD)
- CT Electric (NSW).
The Electrical Business – Medium category:
- GESA Electrical (SA)
- Saints Electrical (NSW)
- ARC Electrical & Data (NSW)
- Genesis Electrical Contractors (WA)
- South Coast Electrical & Maintenance (NSW)
- Local Electrician Sydney (NSW)
- Lightning Electrical and Communications (NSW)
- Heath Henry Electrical (NSW)
- AME Electrical & Data (NSW)
- JDS Combined Industries (QLD).
The Plumber – Large category:
- Reed Plumbing and Drainage Solutions (VIC)
- Watermaster Plumbing (VIC)
- Priority Plus Plumbing (NSW)
- Mr Splash Plumbing (NSW)
- YTB Plumbing (QLD)
- DYFA Plumbing (QLD)
- Silver Water Plumbing (NSW).
The Plumber – Medium category:
- H2PRO Plumbing (VIC)
- Playford Plumbing and Gas (SA)
- North East Plumbing (NSW)
- Franklin Plumbing and Gas (QLD)
- 2Brothers Plumbing & Gas (QLD)
- Fixed Today (NSW)
- DCM Plumbing & Drainage (QLD)
- Hook Line & Sink Plumbing (VIC)
- JML Plumbing & Gas (NSW)
- Creek to Coast Plumbing (QLD)
- Sydney Emergency Plumbing (NSW)
- Beel Plumbing (VIC)
- Bennett & Co Industries (SA)
- Andrew Vanny Plumbing Services & Bathroom Renovations (NSW)
- Rydeau Plumbing (NSW).
The Plumber – Small category:
- Stop Drip Plumbing (NSW)
- Jet Plus Plumbing (VIC)
- Hydrolink Plumbing Services (NSW)
- Service It Australia (VIC)
- Crucial Plumbing Services (NSW)
- ServicePro Plumbing & Relining (NSW)
- Unrivalled Plumbing & Gas (WA).