2010 Award Sponsors

Downer - Manufacturer of the Year

Downer is an ASX 100 company that provides comprehensive engineering, design, construction, maintenance and management services to the infrastructure, energy and resources sectors in over 40 countries across Australia, New Zealand, the Asia Pacific and the United Kingdom.  

Downer has been part of the Hunter region for more than 100 years and has played a key role in the Hunter's manufacturing industry. Of the Group's 21,000 people more than 2000 of the team are providing critical infrastructure services at over 20 locations throughout the Hunter Region.

One of the Group's largest projects, the Waratah fleet PPP, is currently being delivered out of Downer's Rail Manufacturing facility at Cardiff. The project is for 626 new passenger cars for the NSW Government, providing a $200 million boost to the Hunter economy and confirming the Hunter Region as the rail manufacturing centre of NSW. This project is the largest passenger train order in Australian history and is generating more than 300 jobs and significant apprenticeship opportunities in Newcastle and the Hunter.

The Group has been a proud sponsor of HMA for three consecutive years. For more information visit http://www.downeredi.com/ or phone +61 2 9240 9000

Enterprise Connect -Excellence in Innovation

Enterprise Connect provides comprehensive support to Australian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), to help them become more innovative, efficient and competitive.

SMEs face many challenges in today's increasingly global marketplace, but today's business environment also brings opportunities. Enterprise Connect is designed to help SMEs acquire the knowledge, tools and expertise to improve productivity, increase competitiveness and fully capitalise on their growth potential. 

Enterprise Connect comprises two components:

• Manufacturing Centres
• Innovation Centres which includes the Mining Technology Centre.

Together, they provide a national network of services and support for eligible SMEs to access expert, practical advice and support tailored to their individual firms.

The first level of service offered through Enterprise Connect is a comprehensive Business Review, which is delivered at no cost to a client firm.  Skilled and experienced Business Advisers carry out Business Reviews on-site at firm's premises. This is supported by funding to implement actions identified in the Business Review.

Industry & Investment NSW - Excellence in Export of Manufactured Goods

The Department of State and Regional Development is now part of the Department of Industry & Investment, which has been established to assist in building a diversified State economy that creates jobs.

The new department works to attract investment to NSW and support innovative, sustainable and globally competitive businesses, industries and sectors. We provide business assistance and advice, strong technical knowledge and scientific capabilities. By integrating the services of the department's partner agencies we now have a stronger capacity to support NSW industry and businesses in creating jobs and leveraging investment.

For our stakeholders and customers, our focus during the changes is on continuity of business, a seamless transition, front-line work and ultimately better, more integrated services.

For more information visit http://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/

Sparke Helmore Lawyers - Excellence in Training

Who is Sparke Helmore?

Sparke Helmore is national, multi-disciplinary law firm specialising in Workplace Relations and Safety, Insurance, Commercial, and Dispute Resolution legal services. We act for Governments and corporates alike, always striving to strike the balance between legal and commercial outcomes.

Where are we located?

Sparke Helmore is a fully integration national law firm. This means we are more than just a ‘network' of legal providers - we are one! We pride ourselves on our ability to not only offer, but deliver, the same consistent service standard to both national and state based clients. We have 56 partners spread throughout Australia, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Newcastle, Perth and the Upper Hunter. We have Workplace Relations and Safety lawyers available at all of our offices and this is why we have a truly national footprint!

What we do in Workplace Relations and Safety?

As one of Sparke Helmore's core service areas, the team consists of 38 Workplace relations and safety experts, including 7 Partners. We have one of the largest Workplace relations and safety teams in Australia, spread across our eight offices.

Our clients include some of Australia's biggest companies across a wide range of industries including mining and resources, FMCG, Government, construction, transport, and manufacturing to name a few. In recent times, the workplace relations legal landscape has shifted and our team has been at the forefront of these changes by, for example, assisting our clients in the preparation of submissions regarding the harmonisation of OHS laws. As the legal changes become a reality for our clients, we seek to keep them abreast of the latest issues with seminars, as well as podcasts, webinars, and highly successful court simulations.

Our Workplace Relations and Safety team are, above all else, outcome driven. In the court room, we achieve these outcomes by assisting our clients with their safety matters (negotiation of withdrawal of charges; successful defences on behalf of employers, managers and directors; costs orders; significant plea bargaining results and non-conviction dispositions; and successful appeals against prohibition and improvement notices), and employment matters (advising employers in the areas of bullying and related action such as discrimination and termination of employment claims, establishing investigations into complaints, advocacy before various National and State Industrial Courts and Tribunals, obtaining orders to stop related industrial action, and negotiating outcomes with unions).

Outside of the court room, we also assist our clients with lobbying/preparing submissions, management systems review and compliance, operating guidelines for managers, policy/procedure and standards review. Read more about our services below:

Responsive Services - OHS

• Investigations by regulators/union officials
• Prosecutions
• Improvement and prohibition notices
• Coronial proceedings
• Lobbying and submissions
• OHS Incident response Hotline (24/7) 1800 63 85 63

Responsive Services - Employment and Industrial Relations

• Advocacy
• Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment matters
• Employment contracts, enterprise agreements, and modern awards
• Industrial disputes
• Injured workers litigation
• Unfair dismissal, Adverse Action, and workplace rights

Proactive Services - OHS

• Legal reviews of:
• Policy, planning and strategy
• Management systems
• Procedures, standards and operating guidelines
• Gap analysis
• General compliance
• Risk assessment
• Governance and due diligence
• Contractor management
• Joint venture or other third party arrangements
• General commercial agreements and transactions (OHS aspects)
• Tailored training and legal briefings

Proactive Services - Employment and Industrial Relations

• Dispute resolution
• Enterprise bargaining
• Policies and procedures
• Strategic and HR planning, and the role of IR in business sustainability
• Independent contractor review
• Investigations of workplace conduct
• Tailored training and legal briefings

For articles on the latest workplace relations and workplace health and safety issues, please click here

Peach Advertising -   Excellence in Marketing

Peach is Newcastle’s most experienced advertising agency offering local specialist advice and expertise backed by the global strength of Australia’s largest marketing communications group, STW. We serve significant retail and public sector clients as well as conducting effective Social Marketing campaigns for major State and Federal Government agencies. From our Newcastle office we develop fully integrated campaigns including all aspects of creative development, marketing strategy, advertising, digital and media. Peach has developed some of the Hunter’s biggest brands such as NIB Health Funds, Newcastle Knights and Bluetongue Brewery. We serve a range of clients like CountryLink NSW, Downer EDI, Kloster Group, WorkCover NSW, Hunter Water, Panthers Group, Industry & Investment NSW, Solar Newcastle/Australia, NHS Plasterboards, Forsythes and the NSW Office of State Revenue.

The University of Newcastle- Excellence in Product Design

The University of Newcastle’s Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment is a research intensive faculty with an international reputation for excellence and a strong and vibrant research culture and dedicated to creating and strengthening partnerships with industry and other significant institutions / organisations to maximise research outcomes.

Forsythes Recruitment- Manufacturing Employee of the Year

Forsythes Recruitment is Newcastle and the Central Coast's largest locally owned and operated recruitment firm with branches in Newcastle and the Central Coast and formal recruitment alliances regionally, nationally and throughout the world.

Skilled - Excellence in Safety

A national workforce services company built on a passion for providing superior service with the very best people and a commitment to safety and the community.

SKILLED has 40 years of experience and excellence in Workforce solutions. We have developed a team of dedicated, highly qualified people producing exceptional results for clients across Australia and New Zealand.

By delivering specialist workforce solutions, SKILLED is committed to helping clients become more productive through better use of one of its greatest assets - people.

SKILLED is the industry leader in specialist workforce solutions - through the delivery of:

• Flexible labour
• Project-based workforce solutions, including shut downs, installations and relocations, and
• Total workforce management

SKILLED are SKILLS specialists:

• Maintenance and trades
• Production and distribution
• Technical professional

SKILLED are market specialists:

• Primary manufacturing
• Food and Pharmaceuticals
• Automotive and Machinery
• Mining and energy
• Transport and logistics
• Primary services
• Government and defence
• Utilities and infrastructure

SKILLED's workforce management, training and apprenticeship, OH&S and IR expertise provide clients with flexibility, risk management, reduced workforce related costs and ultimately - productivity improvements.

SKILLED's Vision

SKILLED will be the leading global provider of specialist workforce solutions

SKILLED's Mission

To provide satisfying and flexible career opportunities and to improve the productivity of industry through the delivery of specialist skills

SKILLED's Values

At SKILLED, we are built on passion for people and superior service, with a commitment to safety and the community.

• Safety (care and commitment)
• Knowledge (understanding and communication)
• Integrity (accountability and honesty)
• Leadership (innovation and quality)

Tomago Aluminium - Excellence in Technology

With around 1100 employees and 250 contractors, Tomago Aluminium is one of the largest employers in the Hunter Region. Tomago Aluminium produces around 528,000 tonnes of aluminium per year predominantly for the export market and contributes around $500million to the economy of the Hunter Region alone.

Tomago Aluminium is committed to its community and to the partnerships which help it contribute to the growth and sustainability of the Hunter's manufacturing industry.

WorleyParsons- Environmental Excellence -Environmental Practice / Environmental Initiative 

WorleyParsons is a leading provider of professional services to the energy, resource and complex process industries in Australia and New Zealand.   The region continues to grow significantly across all customer sectors, with employee numbers rising to over 7.700.  WorleyParsons has 137 offices with 29,100 employees worldwide in 40 countries.  WorleyParsons provides services to the Hydrocarbons, Minerals & Metals, Infrastructure, and Power sectors.

Bureau Veritas - Excellence in Manufacturing Process

Bureau Veritas is a global professional services company offering Inspection, Certification, Consultancy and Laboratory Testing services. Founded in 1828, its core business is that of conformity assessment, applied in the areas of quality, health, safety, environment and social responsibility. The mission of Bureau Veritas consists of inspecting, verifying or certifying assets as well as projects, products or systems, using its own benchmark references, national & international standards, regulatory and/or statutory requirements, in order to assess compliance. Bureau Veritas operate in 140 countries through a network of more than 800 offices and laboratories.

WHO Printing and Presentations

WHO Presentation Services is recognised as the premier print and presentation provider with a difference.Our friendly, knowledgeable and skilled staff, have a  desire for excellence. They will help to inspire, offer products, services and solutions in an innovative and cost effective to meet all clients needs, delivering on time, every time.

For all of your printing, copying, design, framing or map supplies contact WHO ?

Kepner Tregoe

Kepner Tregoe provide consulting and training to meet complex business challenges using  the renowned KT processes for problem solving, decision making, project management and manufacturing excellence.

McEwan & Partners

McEwan and Partners are Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors established to assist business to achieve goals. We apply innovative solutions to innovative business  -  successful manufacturers think outside the square,and so do we.

Hunter Business Publications

Hunter Business Review is the leading specialist print information source for the Hunter business community. It keeps busy Hunter business people informed

Hunter Business Chamber

Hunter Business Chamber is the independent representative organisation for Australia’s largest regional business community. The Business Chamber is an advisor, a forum, a source of information and a point of access for its members. The Chamber provides to its 1000 members a comprehensive range of services including lobbying, advocacy, networking and advice including workplace relations, business advice and training.

HMA Comittment to Sponsors

• Naming rights to your nominated award category on all HMA promotional material
• Opportunity for self-promotion of award / category “Pleased to be associated with……”
• Three complimentary tickets to the Awards night
• Presentation of the award
• First opportunity to renew sponsorship for 2011
• Display of your logo on the audio visual presentation on the Awards night
• Mention of your organisation in all pre-awards promotional material, media releases, website, post awards releases and publications
• Promotional material and corporate banner / display at the Awards and HMA Events in 2010/ 11
• Recognition of all HMA promotion of communication for the Award year
• Marketing opportunity via the HMA database once per year i.e. a promo brochure sent via our database