Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards

September 2020 Winners

Emerging & Micro Business

Tough Trucks
Tough Trucks imports and sells luxury North American trucks from SCA Performance of Alabama, including the signature Black Widow brand. The business has also developed the F250 Overland Edition for the ultimate offroad experience. Started as a hobby by owner Mark Ritson in 2017, Tough Trucks has grown significantly over the past 3 years and had its biggest month on record during the current COVID-19 crisis. The company's core customers are high-net-worth individuals and businesses with the need for high-performance vehicles with Class-Leading features including the ability to tow heavy loads.

Family Business

Marques Flooring
Marques Flooring is a second-generation family business that has seen tremendous growth during what has been considered a tough year in business. Established in 1986, Marques Flooring is a wholesaler that supplies and educates the flooring industry throughout SEQ and Northern NSW Wales. The company has now won nine national flooring industry awards since 2011 and has grown to have four factories.

Retail, Wholesale and Distribution

One Global Logistics
One Global Logistics is an International Freight Forwarding and Logistics company. Established in 2010, One Global now has four offices in Australia. One Global manages the import/export needs of more than 300 clients, 75% of which are based between the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.

Construction and Trades

NTS Group
NTS Group specialises in civil pipeline infrastructure works for government authorities and businesses nationwide. NTS Group, which was established on the Gold Coast in 2005, now employs 75 people and has been involved with some of Queensland's most challenging civil contracting projects. This has included works on the Gold Coast Light Rail and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Manufacturing

Nucrush Group
The Nucrush Group, which provides work for more than 125 people, has been servicing the Gold Coast's construction needs for more than 50 years. The Group has two main businesses, Nucrush, which produces quarry and natural stone products, and Nucon, which produces and delivers pre-mixed concrete. The group remains 100% owned by the Neumann Family.

Professions and Services

Planit Consulting
Planit Consulting provides professional town planning, environmental planning, landscape architecture and engineering consultancy services throughout Australia. The Nobby Beach headquartered company, which was established in 2000, now has 46 employees in six offices around Australia. At any point in time Planit can be managing more than 400 projects for clients.

Health and Wellbeing

Amtan Medical Centres
In April 2011, husband and wife team Dr Ameer Hamza and Dr Tanya Unni, opened the first of their family friendly medical centres in Ormeau and later in Reedy Creek, Pimpama and Pacific Pines. In 2018, they launched their new brand AMTAN Medical and now have a portfolio of eight practices across the Gold Coast. Dr Unnni has since established three practices specialising in cosmetic beauty treatments, called SkinLab & Beauty, developed a range of beauty products and co-founded four cardiology centres and three radiology centres.

IT and Digital Business

Powertec Telecommunications
Gold Coast-based hardware and communications company, Powertec Telecommunications is celebrating its 25th birthday in November. The Southport-based business started by Raymond Smith now employs 42 people across Australia and New Zealand. Its customers include mobile carriers, large multinational companies, government departments, the Defence Department, , emergency services, small to medium-sized businesses and individuals.

Student Employability

Service.com.au
Service.com.au is Australias leading platform for connecting anyone looking for local trades and service providers, to top quality, verified, small to medium-sized service businesses. Co-Founder, Jacob Banks has been a champion for student work experience and a great example in the community for student employability. Jacob is currently mentoring 2 students from Griffith University who are gaining invaluable experience.

Mayor's Innovation GC

Pragmatic Thinking
Pragmatic Thinking is one of Australia's fastest-growing behaviour and motivation strategy companies. Founded by Alison and Darren Hill in 2008, the company uses psychology, biology, sociology and anthropology to develop contemporary and practical ways to drive cultural shift inside organisations. The company has partnered with companies and organisations like Suncorp, QFES, Commonwealth Bank and McDonalds.