Pilbara Inland Chamber of Commerce and Industries celebrates local industry with Business Awards

The top businesses, community leaders and groups in the inland Pilbara have been celebrated at the region’s top awards night for industry. Now in its second year, the Pilbara Inland Chamber of Commerce and Industries Business Awards were held at the Clem Thompson Pavilion in Tom Price on October 28. The evening celebrated the hard work of local organisations and companies with 21 business entering the awards across eight categories. More than 80 people attended the evening which featured entertainment from Famous Sharron. The business of the year prize went to Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation, while the runner up was Studio 6751. Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation also took home the prize for the best not for profit. The home business award went to Womens Wellness Coaching, a local fitness company that provides women with a safe place to return to exercise after pregnancy. Siobhan Johnson makeup, tanning, beauty took out the owner/operator category ahead of Hillside Flower Co, and Wildflower H & H won the start up business prize. STUDIO 6751 was named best small business, while Bennco won the best business 11+ employees. And in the final category, Pilbara Kitchen took out the peoples choice prize. Event organiser and PICCI secretary Heidi McDonald said to have 21 business entries was amazing. “We had huge growth last year, which is amazing. And I know next year is going to be even bigger,” she said. “It’s really important to showcase the local business owners because they are the ones that keeps this town running. “A lot of people call Pilbara, a mining town but we really aren’t that, we’re so much more. “We have mining as a major sector but we have so many young families and they all need to have their coffees, get their hair done.” Ms McDonald said the awards were important to help encourage and showcase businesses in the community. “That is why it’s so important to have the chamber involved and back them and get them into these awards,” she said.