Northe – Minister congratulates Telstra business award winners

Minister for Small Business Russell Northe today commended the winners of Telstra’s respected Victorian Business Awards.

Mr Northe paid special tribute to Smile Solutions, a dental practice based in Melbourne CBD which was awarded the coveted 2014 Telstra Victorian Business of the Year award.

“Congratulations must go to all six winners, but special mention should be made of Smile Solutions – Australia’s largest one-stop-shop private dental practice,” Mr Northe said.

The company employs 46 specialists, general dentists, hygienists, nurses and managers who offer general dentistry, orthodontics, dental implants and specialist care.

“The practice, which is located in the Manchester Unity building, supports a patient list of 65,000 people and turns over more than $18 million a year,” Mr Northe said.

“Other winners of the Telstra Victorian Business Awards were: Prahran hairdresser, URBAN ESCAPE; Crisp Creative Salad of Melbourne CBD; sports recruiting agency, NSR Australia of Cheltenham; The Enchanted Adventure Garden of Arthurs Seat; and Smile Solutions.

“The Victorian Coalition Government recognises that small business is pivotal to the strength and sustainability of the Victorian economy.

“The Coalition Government is implementing programs that ensure small businesses grow by taking advantage of the best available advice, technology, skills, and assistance programs.

“Victoria’s 520,000 strong small businesses account for: 96 per cent of all businesses in the state; 1.2 million jobs, which is almost half of our private sector employment; and 30 per cent of our state’s goods and services,” Mr Northe said

More than $800,000 in prizes will be shared by winners of the 2014 state, territory and national Telstra Business Awards – a program that has celebrated Australian small and medium businesses since 1992.