This year there are 16 categories recognising the achievements of local businesses, along with a few additions.

Bathurst Business Chamber president Stacey Whittaker said these new categories will be open to the public to decide the winners, differing from the others where winners are selected by an independent panel of judges. 

“We’ve added two new awards which are purely people’s choice awards,” she said. 

“They are the employee of the year and favourite business categories.”

Nominations for all categories will close on Friday, July 10.

From then until August 23, the nominated businesses will have the opportunity to accept their nomination and submit information about who they are and what they do.

“We encourage everyone to do really in-depth submissions as we have an independent panel of judges from all over the Central West who aren’t familiar with the business,” Ms Whittaker said.

Members of the public will be able to vote on the people’s choice categories from July 21 either online or via forms in the Western Advocate. 

“Normally the employee of the year had to have a submission, but this year we’ve opened it up to the public to choose the employee of the year and the favourite business,” Ms Whittaker said. 

The business awards were held at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre in 2014, but this year they will move to a larger space at Stannies. 

“Due to overwhelming numbers, we’ve had to move,” Ms Whittaker said. 

The business awards winners will be announced at the gala dinner on September 25, with the tickets to go on sale from July 10.

CityFit Fitness Club won the top honour last year after being nominated every year since the business was re-established in 2010.

Director Gary Webster said the club is proud of the achievement and encourages other businesses in Bathurst to take advantage of this iconic event. 

“The awards program is an opportunity to shine a light on business excellence in Bathurst,” he said.

“For individual businesses it’s an opportunity to draw attention to your business, your team, your products and the unique services you offer.”