A mobile gymnastics school run from a van by Aberglasslyn’s 25-year-old Samantha Nicholls, is just one innovative venture on a list of Hunter businesses named as finalists in this year’s state business and tourism awards.
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A cohort of 17 Hunter businesses, including the Hunter Valley’s Beyond Ballooning and Margan Wines and Restaurant, is up for gongs at NSW Business Chamber’s annual award ceremonies.
Ms Nicholls, owner of Gymnastics 21, said it was a “nice shock” to find out her two-year-old business was a finalist in the Startup Superstar category.
She said she developed a vision for her “mobile gymnastics club”, which now employs five people, while working as an instructor.
“It was just having a really good experience with gymnastic while growing up, and working at other places, learning from everywhere I went,” she said. “It’s quite labour intensive but it’s too rewarding not to do it.”
Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said the nominations demonstrated the excellence and entrepreneurial spirit of Hunter businesses.
“The Business Awards finalists illustrate the strength and diversity of our business sector, with nominees coming from a range of fields and industries,” Mr Hawes said.
“In the tourism sector, our leading operators have helped boost the number of visitor nights spent in the Hunter by nearly 14 per cent for the year to June 2018.”
Winners will be announced on November 22 and 23 in Sydney.
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