The Business Achiever Awards, established in 1994, encourage friendly rivalry between local businesses, give winners a marketing edge in their area, and help to create networking opportunities between local organisations.

Quest Community Newspapers recognises the importance of local business in the community. Indeed, it would be almost impossible to publish a free community newspaper without the assistance of funds generated by these businesses through local advertising.

With this in mind, Quest set out in 1994 to create a high profile award structure that would publicly recognise excellence in local businesses in the greater Brisbane area for their commitment to customer service.

HOW CAN MY BUSINESS BE NOMINATED?

Businesses are nominated by our readers - your customers and staff - by completing and sending in the special nomination form published over four weeks in your local Quest newspaper title, during the Business Achievers promotion or by nominating online at www.questawards.com.au. Encourage your customers to nominate you by downloading the nomination form, posters or point of sale items from our website.

HOW DO I BECOME A FINALIST?

A maximum of six businesses with the most nominations in each category after the nomination period become the Business Achievers finalists for that particular newspaper title. They are then invited to attend the gala awards night where the overall winners for each category are announced.

DOES MY BUSINESS HAVE TO ADVERTISE WITH QUEST NEWSPAPERS TO WIN?

No, it makes no difference to the judging process. The Business Achiever Awards are open to any small business operating within the delivery area of your local Quest paper. If enough readers support you, your business has the chance to become a finalist.

DOES QUEST DECIDE WHO WINS?

No! Our readers start off the process of nomination, then our judging partners Access Management Corporation oversee stage two of the procedure (Business survey) to ensure impartiality. We then commission a private research company to carry out a "mystery shop" to ensure a multiple judging criteria.

HOW ARE THE WINNERS DECIDED?

There are three stages to the judging procedure. Throughout these three stages, each business within an individual award category is ranked via a point allocation system.

STAGE 1

In stage one all nominated businesses are allocated ranking points dependent on the number of nominations received. A maximum of six nominated businesses with the highest number of ranking points automatically become finalists and move on to Stage Two.

STAGE 2

In Stage Two, finalists are required to respond to a detailed business survey, the answers to which are evaluated by the awards judging partners. The ranking points gained in this stage are then added to those from Stage One.

STAGE 3

In the Third and final stage of judging the finalist businesses undergo a structured 'Mystery Shop Audit' which is also converted to ranking points and added to those gained in Stages One and Two to determine the overall category winner.

For more information please go to www.questawards.com.au