A DRIVING passion to keep people safe on the roads has scored a massive win with Panorama Road Safety taking out the city’s top business award.
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The 2017 Peak Connect Carillon Business Awards were held in front of hundreds of people at Bathurst Showground on Saturday night.
Panorama Road Safety owner Matthew Irvine has been a driving instructor for 20 years, while the business commenced operations just five years ago.
Not only did the business win the major award on the night, but it also took home Excellence in Education and the Excellence in Professional Services categories.
While Mr Irvine won the Business Leader (aged 35+) category as well.
“The caliber of people I was up against was amazing. It’s very flattering and very humbling,” he said.
“We’re just a little business from the Central West trying to our our thing.”
Mr Irvine said he and his seven staff do not look at their roles as jobs, but rather as vocations.
It’s really encouraging, but very humbling. We love what we do and I think that’s half the reason we’ve been so successful.
- Panorama Road Safety's Matthew Irvine
“It’s really encouraging, but very humbling. We love what we do and I think that’s half the reason we’ve been so successful,” he said.
In just five years of operation, Panorama Road Safety has scored some massive goals, Mr Irvine said.
“We’re in partnership with PCYC NSW. Almost 4000 people have been trained [to drive] through the PCYC and that’s really kicked-off the business in its current form,” he said.
Ten years ago, Mr Irvine was also part of a project team that developed and rolled out the driver training test still in use across NSW.
“That experience and depth of knowledge goes back so many years and that’s what sets us apart,” he said.
In recent times, there has been a string of fatalities on roads around Bathurst and Mr Irvine said this can be disheartening as a driver instructor.
“What you can achieve as an educator for people to succeed, that’s where the magic happens,” he said.
Among the other top gongs on the night was the People’s Choice Award – Employee of the Year award which went to Jami-Lee Single from Vivability.
The People’s Choice Award – Favourite Business went to Game On Cards and Games.
- Visit www.westernadvocate.com.au for more photos from the awards night.
Winners
- Peak Connect Carillon Business of the Year – Panorama Road Safety
- People’s Choice Award – Employee of the Year – Jami-Lee Single (Vivability)
- People’s Choice Award – Favourite Business – Game on Cards and Games
- Excellence In Agribusiness, Farming or Rural Achievement – Town and Country Rural Supplies
- Excellence In Construction and Trades – Pozza's Powdercoating
- Excellence In Education – Panorama Road Safety
- Excellence In Food, Wine or Hospitality – Fish River Roasters
- Excellence In Health and Lifestyle – Studio Benefit
- Excellence in Micro Business – 1-5 staff – SparkLabs Pty Ltd
- Excellence In Professional Services – Panorama Road Safety
- Excellence In Tourism, Events or Promoting Bathurst – Mayfield Garden
- Excellence In Retail, 1-10 Staff (NEW Category) – Bobbies Clothing
- Excellence In Retail, 10+ Staff (NEW Category) – Bake, Table & Tea
- Start Up Superstar (NEW Category) – The Green Dry Clean
- Excellence in Social Enterprise (New Category) – Western Research Institute Limited
- Young Entrepreneur (aged 18 – 35) – Dean Campbell ( Dean Campbell Transport)
- Young Business Executive (aged 18-35) – Daniel Sutton (Morse Group Accountants and Advisors)
- Business Leader (aged 35+) – Matthew Irvine (Panorama Road Safety)
- Excellence in Small Business (20 or less employees) – Bobbies Clothing
- Excellence in Business (more than 20 full time employees) – Bathurst RSL Club
- Excellence in Innovation (NEW Category) – Reliance Bank
- Employer of Choice – Morse Group Accountants and Advisors
- Defence Reserve Support Council Central West Employer Support Award – Skillset