Telstra is urging Australia's business leaders to nominate the nation's best small and medium businesses for the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Awards - including a brand-new business start-up award.

Paul Newbound's Australian Pressure Testing Services won the Telstra Australian Business of theYear in 2011.

Paul Newbound, founder and director of the 2011 Telstra Australian Business of the Year, Australian Pressure Testing Services, said in his experience the process could assist many businesses and he urged others to nominate businesses for the awards.

"Small business is the heart and blood supply of this country, making Australia better than it ever has been. The best companies seem to have one thing in common which is the passion they have for their business - it's incredible and it's contagious," Mr Newbound said.

"My challenge to small and medium business is to dare to dream bigger and nominate your business in 2012."

Telstra has introduced The Start-Up Award, open to businesses that have been operating for between one and three years and have up to 200 employees.

Will Irving, Telstra Business group managing director and Telstra Business Awards ambassador, said, "For two decades, the awards have recognised businesses that demonstrate leadership and innovation as core to the success of their business operations.

"The awards have enabled finalists and winners to build stronger business networks and expand connections with their customers and the broader business community.

"As part of Telstra's commitment to the sector's business growth, the new Start-Up Award will highlight those entrepreneurs who demonstrate dedication, enthusiasm and the business nous required to turn an idea into a successful commercial reality," Mr Irving said.

The awards offer all entrants a Business Health Check, a free 70-page report that evaluates business performance against independent benchmarking of core business indicators including business planning and performance, customer and financial management, HR, sales, marketing and product development.

The Business Health Check helps entrants to grow their businesses tomorrow by knowing "where it is at, today".

The 2012 Telstra Australian Business Awards have five categories: News Limited Micro-Business Award for businesses with five employees or fewer; MYOB Small Business Award for businesses with more than five employees but less than or equal to 20 employees; Commonwealth Bank Medium Business Award for businesses with more than 20 employees but less than or equal to 200 employees; The Start-Up Award for businesses that have been operating for between one and three years and have up to 200 employees; and the Telstra Regional Business Award for businesses in each state and territory located outside the metropolitan areas of the capital cities.

The 1300 AUSTRALIA People's Choice Award is open to all submitted entrants in the Telstra Australian Business Awards.

It gives the Australian public the opportunity to vote for their favourite businesses via the Telstra Australian Business Awards website from April 4.

Winners of state and territory categories will go onto the national Telstra Australian Business Awards in Sydney on August 29, with the overall state and territory winners eligible to win the 2012 Telstra Australian Business of the Year.

For finalists and winners, Telstra Australian Business Awards bring accolades, public profile, a share of $500,000 in cash and prizes and the privilege of joining an exclusive national business alumni.

Businesses can submit entries from February 6 and entries will close on April 2.

www.telstrabusinessawards.com

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