The search is on for Sydney’s best businesses.

Nominations are now open for the 2010 City of Sydney business awards.

This year, Sydney’s best bike business will be recognised for the first time. This new category acknowledges the increasing number of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of bicycles and their accessories in the Local Government Area.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Awards new category - Best Bike Business

The City of Sydney Business Awards celebrate the best small businesses in the City of Sydney Area. It has 20 categories, including cafes and restaurants, retail beauty, healthcare and fitness, specialty retail, tourism, IT, and Education and Environmental Businesses, that will share in $25,000 in prizes.

“There are more than 20,000 small and medium businesses across the inner city who are the heart of our local villages by driving economic growth, employment and connecting communities.  The awards acknowledge business leadership in sustainability, fair trade and social responsibility, as well as compliment our Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan. I encourage all local businesses to enter,” said Lord Mayor, Clover Moore.

Eligible businesses include those employing less than 200 full-time employees within the City of Sydney Local Government Area. More than 600 businesses were nominated in 2009, attracting more than 35,000 votes.  “The fate of more than 600 businesses will be put into the hands of local residents and shoppers to tell us their favourite businesses and start voting,” stated Lord Mayor.

The winner of the 2009 Takeaway Food & Catering Services Award, Fresh Catering’s Director Peter McCloskey said, “The Awards gave us an opportunity to profile our business in front of a whole new market.”

Nominations opened 16 June 2010 and close on 30 July 2010.

For more information, to nominate and vote go to www.sydneybusinessawards.com.au

Media Contact: 
For more information about the Business Awards contact:

Leanne Lincoln
                                                                                                                                           02 9265 9910 or llincoln@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Thanks to Australian Businesswomen’s Network advisory board member, Susan Wareham McGrath, who recommend this very cool site – quickanddirtytips .com. Their tagline is ” Fun, friendly, practical advice to help you do things better.”

The site offers short, actionable advice in easy-to-consume formats that you can listen to right on your ipod, or iphone. Of course you can also listen on your computer but it’s great for busy, on-the-move people.

I listen (on a weekly basis) to Digital Marketer (and Grammar Girl (I looooooove Grammar Girl. I always feel a little smarter after an episode ).

Check it out and let us know which ones your favourite is!

quickanddirtytips.com

I’m a sucker for finding how to get more done. I know many women in business juggle LOTS and so here’s a tool that was recommended to me that I want to share with you.

This online work journal is said to help you focus on what’s important and to optimise your working day. It even claims that you’ll notice the benefits straight away. Let me know if you try it out and it works.

http://www.journallive.com

I just need to get organised enough to get to the point on my list of todos where I can look at it