Premier’s NSW Export Awards

Applicants benefit by

• Looking critically at your business, guided by the awards criteria that highlight what’s important for successful international businesses
• Benchmarking your business against others in your industry

Finalists benefit by

• Inclusion in Export Awards media/publicity campaigns
• Profile as an Export Awards finalist on the Export Council of Australia’s website
• Opportunity to get involved, profile your business, and share your export story at the Export Council of Australia’s export events
• Profiling opportunities in Export Council of Australia’s marketing (i.e. case studies on successful New South Wales exporters, website exposure etc.)
• Premier’s NSW Export Awards finalist logo for use on your company’s collateral – put the Export Awards finalist symbol on your business cards, letterhead and brochures to communicate your success to your international clients

Winners benefit by

• Exclusive use of the Premier’s NSW Export Awards winner’s logo
• Premier’s NSW Export Awards winner’s trophy and framed winner’s certificate
• Invitations to Export Council of Australia’s NSW Export Awards winners roundtable and other events

Winning a New South Wales award in one of the 13 national categories also means your company progresses as a finalist in the Australian Export Awards. This means:

• An opportunity to vie for the Australian Exporter of the Year Award
• Promotion by Austrade of the Australian Export Awards finalists and on the Australian Export Awards website;
• An Australian Export Awards National Finalist certificate;
• Complimentary registration for your team to attend a masterclass hosted by leading experts to gain insights into the latest innovative trends in global business
• Complimentary attendance to the Australian Export Awards National Awards Ceremony
• Entitlement to use the national Australian Export Awards logo for your corporate marketing materials
• Feedback from national judges on your application

Applications for the 2023 Premier’s NSW Export Awards are invited from firms and organisations that meet the following criteria.

Businesses

• Earn foreign exchange.
• Hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Operate as a separate business if part of a larger organisation.
• Maintain appropriate business ethics and demonstrate a commitment to legal obligations including anti-bribery laws, both in Australia and overseas markets.
• Sponsors of a State or Territory Export Awards program or the Australian Export Awards program are not eligible to apply.

Products or services

The product or service exported or delivered overseas must include significant (at least 50 per cent) Australian content or value-add, this may include:

• goods made in Australia from Australian primary products;
• goods made overseas, mainly using Australian primary products;
• goods made in Australia from Australian and imported components;
• goods elaborately transformed in Australia;
• goods made overseas using substantial Australian value-add, intellectual property (IP) or know-how, including design;
• services delivered in Australia to foreign individuals or entities; and
• services delivered overseas using substantial Australian value-add, IP or know-how.

Financials

• The applicant must demonstrate delivery of net foreign economic returns to the Australian economy in terms of profit repatriation and employment in Australia.

• Applicants must provide 3 years of export sales, unless they are applying for the Emerging Exporter Award.
• Applications containing inadequate financial details will not be accepted.
• Applicants that are unable to provide actual export sales for the 2022/23 financial year must provide estimates that supported their demonstrated export efforts.

Applications

• The Awards program operates as a two-tier process. Applications are first judged in an individual state or territory Export Awards program. Each state or territory program will have 13 or more categories. Only winners in the 13 national categories will automatically proceed as Australian Export Awards finalists. They will then be judged in the Australian Export Awards against other state and territory national category winners.
• An application can only be submitted in the state or territory program where the organisation’s head office is located or where the majority of operations are established.
• Applications are only accepted online via the Export Awards application website and must be submitted in full by the closing date to be considered.

Award Categories

• Organisations can apply in one or more category but will only be eligible to win one award at the national level.
• Winners in a state and territory category (outside of national categories) do not proceed to the National Program.
• Eligibility for award categories that are not sector specific:
  • Regional Exporter: Organisations with a non-metropolitan Head Office or majority of operations are eligible to apply for this award
  • Small business: organisations with total annual sales not exceeding $10 million are eligible to apply for this award
  • Emerging Exporter: Organisations with three years or less of export sales are only eligible to apply for this Award.

Previous Winners and Hall of Fame

• Winners from previous years are eligible to apply, except for inductees in the Australian Export Awards national Hall of Fame.

Government agencies and government-owned agencies

• Government agencies and government-owned agencies are not eligible to apply. However, businesses that receive funding from the Government are eligible to apply.

Program Sponsors

• Sponsors of a State, Territory Export Awards or the Australian Export Awards program are not eligible to apply.

Areas of focus

• Evidence of sustainable competitive advantage
• Export success and growth potential
• Leadership and innovation in international business and marketing strategies
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, sustainability and/or positive social impact.
• Value and contribution of exports to business expansion
• Overall commitment to growth in international business

Judging criteria

SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION

• This section is not judged [0% weighting]

SECTION 2 – ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND ITS PRODUCT/SERVICES [25% weighting]

• 2.1 – 2.2 Criteria: Assess the viability of the business, including its product/service and unique value proposition, recent milestones and exports/international successes in the current year.
• 2.3 Criteria
  • For e-Commerce category: What are the innovative online practices/strategies the applicant has implemented to maximise their reach overseas (look for innovation in platforms, tools used and customer engagement).
  • For all other industry specific award categories: Assess the businesses’ activities against the selected national category they have applied in. Do these activities clearly reflect and effectively demonstrate leadership and innovation in the selected industry sector?

SECTION 3 – INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGY [40% weighting]

• 3.1 Criteria: Quality of business and marketing strategy taking into consideration scope of the applicant’s international competitive advantage.
• 3.2 Criteria: Value or impact of any diversity and inclusion, sustainability and/or social impact strategies the applicant implemented in their business.
• 3.3 – 3.4 Criteria: Assess the level and sustainability of international revenue considering:
  • Exports as a proportion of total sales revenue.
  • Export value, and year-to-year percentage change in value, over the last three years or since the applicant commenced exporting.
  • Total export earnings from major overseas markets, and diversity of export markets.

SECTION 4 – BUSINESS MANAGEMENT [25% weighting]

• 4.1 Criteria: Assess how/if the businesses’ employment figures and Human Resources strategies support export growth .
• 4.2 Criteria: Assess the structure of the businesses’ export/international operations, their systems to effectively respond to international sales and whether the business is appropriately resourced for export expansion.
• 4.3 – 4.5 Criteria: Soundness of financial strategy for international business. Look for examples of a sound capital base (substantial net profit) and sufficient capital (cash and resources) to support export activity. Do they support the applicant’s international plans for the coming year (e.g. new markets, additional staff, different marketing strategies).

SECTION 5 – INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLANNING AND DIRECTION [10% weighting]

• 5.1 Criteria: Assess evidence of effective measures and business commitment to international business growth.

Winners of the below categories progress to the national-level Australian Export Awards.

Advanced Technologies

For outstanding international success in the field of information technology, digital technologies, software, hardware or digital services.

This includes solutions utilising cloud-based platforms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things, augmented reality, virtual reality, data collaboration and management tools, fintech, cyber security and/or blockchain with civilian, defence, space and/or other industry applications.

Agribusiness, Food and Beverages

For outstanding international success in the field of agricultural products, services or technology including farm production, manufactured foods and beverages, forestry, fisheries.

Creative Industries

For outstanding international success in any creative industry.

This includes music, visual and performing arts, design, film and television, digital media and content, animation, software and games, festival and event management and writing and publishing.

e-Commerce

For outstanding international success in selling goods or services to customers overseas via e-Commerce, including cross-border e- Commerce and online sales.

This includes sales to business (B2B), consumer (B2C) and/or government (B2G) customers, via own website, online marketplaces and other e-Commerce channels.

Emerging Exporter

For outstanding export achievement in any industry sector by a business which has been exporting for three years or less.

This includes existing and new businesses.

International Education and Training

For outstanding international success or learner/student experience in the field of education and training.

This includes education and training services, expertise and curriculum.

International Health

For outstanding international success in health and wellbeing.

This includes biotechnology, medical technology, digital health, medical and health fields, e-health, digital health, aged care services, complementary healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Manufacturing and Advanced Materials

For outstanding international success in manufacturing, engineering and/or advanced materials development.

This includes production of industrial and consumer products and manufacturing technologies.

Professional Services

For outstanding international success in the professional services.

This includes legal, accounting, administration and support services, business management and consultancy, marketing services, franchising and licensing, engineering, financial and insurance, market research, translation services, tourism and the arts.

Regional Exporter

For outstanding international success by a business whose head office and/or majority of operations are based in a non-metropolitan location.

Resources and Energy

For outstanding international success in the production, processing, value adding, or provision of equipment, services or solutions related to the extractive resources and/or energy sectors.

Small Business

For outstanding international success by any business with total annual sales not exceeding $10 million.

Sustainability and Green Economy

For outstanding international success in environmental solutions, clean energy innovation, materials and energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste and water management, green buildings, smart cities and R&D collaboration or businesses committed to sustainable business practices.

These are NSW State categories. Winners of these categories win at the NSW State-level only and do not progress to the National Awards.

NSW Development Impact Award

For companies creating an outstanding positive impact on communities in developing countries through the export of goods and/or services or through their operations. Improved development outcomes include (but are not limited to); increased economic growth and prosperity, improved health outcomes, improved conditions for the most vulnerable, improved education, or improved gender equality.

 

NSW Women in International Business Award

For outstanding achievement in international business by a woman, or group of women, either through developing or leading an international enterprise, or contribution as a senior leader in an enterprise.

 

Western Sydney Exporter Award

For outstanding export achievement in any Industry sector, by an enterprise located in the Greater Western Sydney area.

 

NSW Exporter to Asia Pacific Award

For outstanding export achievement in the Asia Pacfiic region by any industry sector.