Established three years ago, the awards recognise excellence in business leadership, customer service, entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation and employment practices in the Yass Valley local government area.

This year, a total of 31 entries were submitted across ten awards categories.

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Two new public vote categories were added to the fold: People's Choice and Employee Customer Service.

More than 800 people voted for the People's Choice Award and the winner was Yass Gymnastics.

Yass Gymnastics has engaged many families in Yass Valley and was not only recognised by the public at the awards, but also by its employees.

"I think Michelle Vitler (Yass Gymnastics owner and teacher) has been able to offer the community a really valuable activity for children to further their abilities and it's not by chance that she's won the People's Choice Award," Yass Valley Business Chamber president Brad Davis said.

"While Michelle may be engaging parents and children, the fundamentals of business are no different. She has been very proactive and constructed a really good business model for growth," he said.

Mrs Vitler said the business hires young people, mostly under the age of 18, and puts them through a junior leadership program.

"Hopefully we send them off into the world as better people and better employees," she said.

However, it hasn't been the easiest of years for Mrs Vitler who had to quickly find a new home for Yass Gymnastics after the business was told it could no longer use Yass Showground's Sports Stadium in 2018.

"Everyone got behind us and the new location at St Augustine's Hall is great," she said.

"Our gymnastic families are the most dedicated out there."

Yass Gymnastics regularly takes students away to regional and state competitions and will go international for the first time next year, when it takes a group of gymnasts to Hawaii.

The Employee Customer Service Award was also voted by the public and the successful recipient was Tiarna Kelly of My Medical Practice Yass.

"Tiarna has a positive outlook and a sense of wanting to help people, so it's no surprise to me that she's been successful in this category," Mr Davis said.

"Her role with the medical practice obviously demonstrates her empathy for patients that come in. The job is a good fit for her. It highlights who she is and her background."

Ms Kelly was unable to attend the awards.

Priceline Pharmacy Yass pharmacist Andrew Douglas is another person who regularly gives back to the community, whether it's handing out free flu shots or raising awareness for mental health by growing a mo for Movember.

Mr Davis said he believed other businesses could learn from the Outstanding Business Leader's approach.

"I couldn't be more happy for him winning this award. It's a testament to him rolling up his sleeves and doing the work and it's great that he has been recognised," he said.

Mr Douglas said he liked to "lead by example".

"We've got a great team at our work," he said. "One of the main things I say is, try to have a bit of fun. We're there for seven hours a day and so we've got to enjoy our time.

"The community also gives us a lot and I believe that relationship works both ways. We help one another," he said.

"I'm proud of this award, it's a massive achievement."

The Business Awards recognise people of all ages, including an Outstanding Young Employee, which this year was won by Georgia Patmore of Yass Valley Council.

Mr Davis said Ms Patmore should inspire other young people to take a great attitude to work.

"She is always very positive, energetic and willing to help. She's got such a great attitude; she puts 100 per cent into everything she does," he said.

Ms Patmore has also previously won Trainee of the Year at the Illawarra and South East Regional Training Awards and the Markus Gibson-Huck Young Achiever Award at the 2017 Canberra Region Tourism Awards.

"This is another deserving award that I don't think is by chance," Mr Davis said.

Ms Patmore was unable to attend the awards.

Invited special guests at the awards included Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell; Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry director of public affairs and policy, Duncan Bremner; Radio Canberra general manager, Michael Jones; and Yass Valley deputy mayor, Nathan Furry.

Ms Carnell said it was "great to see the Business Chamber go from strength-to-strength."

"I don't think the small businesses here will be small businesses for much longer because they're doing such a great job," she said.

Excellence in Small Business winner Think Technology received $5000 worth of advertising on 2CA radio, presented by Radio Canberra's Mr Jones.

Business owner Janine Bright said the prize was great.

Ms Bright attributed the award to the changes the business recently implemented based on the Entrepreneurial Operating System for Small Businesses.

"It's a different way of running a business, it gets you to work out what your core focus and values are and who your core customers are. Then you get the employees who fit that," Ms Bright said.

"The team has really got behind us on this idea. They're the ones who really need to be commended."

Excellence in Business winners, Four Winds owners Sarah and John Collingwood, moved from Victoria around 10 years ago to turn there dream of growing and selling grapes into a reality.

"It's been so exciting to be a part of this community and to see all of the businesses in the region grow together," Mrs Collingwood said.

She said the food at Four Winds, which includes its popular wood-fired pizzas, has been a point of difference for the winery and acknowledged the support from surrounding wineries such as Clonakilla, Eden Road, Shaw Estate and Dionysus in sending customers their way.

"Sometimes when you're running your own business you're not able to step back and see how it's all going. This award tonight gives us recognition," Mr Collingwood said.

"Here's to a great future," Mr Collingwood said.

Blackwattle Alpaca Yarn and Fibre business owners Angela and Matthew Smith didn't expect to win Excellence in Micro-Business and were excited when they heard their names called.

The couple moved to Yass Valley around 12 years ago, bought 40 acres and the business grew from there.

Today they run a herd of about 70 alpacas and produce yarn and fibre. They also host events and workshops that allow the public to try their hand at Mr and Mrs Smith's craft.

"I'm a really big believer in creating community around art. It's a safe space," Mrs Smith said.

"It's great to receive this award and have all of our hard work recognised by other business," she said.

Melinda Head was recognised by the business chamber as this year's Start-Up Superstar, having only began her Murrumbateman-based pilates studio and soft tissue clinic in February last year.

"It's been one of the biggest challenges," she said.

Ms Head has fully self-funded the business that provides physical therapy for her clients.

"But I love it and I have not looked back," she said. "The diversity of what I do is a lot greater here than if I was in Canberra."

Ms Head said the award has given her time to reflect on the past year.

"I've revisited by business plan and checked in with my business," she said.

Cafe Vieux, the very location of this year's awards opened at Linton Manor in August 2018.

The young Aiden Jitts has led this family project and has been using organic produce at the cafe and running electricity off solar.

He said he is already pursuing opening a restaurant as an extension of the cafe and is hoping to grow the produce on-site.

"We bought this property 12 years ago and have been trying to make it into something ever since," he said.

"I've already found a chef for the restaurant and we're looking at opening in September or February next year. All of the food will be grown here, we've already started ploughing."

All of the night's winners will now proceed to the regional Illawarra Business Awards and success there would see them progress to the state level awards.

"Congratulations to all of the finalists and award winners," Mr Davis said. "We also truly value our sponsors that have helped to put this event on."