TECHNIGRO IN FULL BLOOM AT AWARDS

 TECHNIGRO won the coveted Business of the Year title at the annual Gold Coast Business Excellence awards on a memorable night where Dreamworld founder John Longhurst was also honoured.

Nick Bloor (pictured), founder of the vegetation management company, was ecstatic in the moments after the announcement at Jupiters Hotel and Casino on Saturday night.

“It is a testament to 25 years of hard work, commitment from our family and a wonderful team - our people are the real magic to our success,” says Bloor.

“We have got the best group of people in the industry, with huge amounts of experience, and they choose to come and work with us every day.”

Bloor carried the first Business Excellence Award his company won 12 years ago and was excited about what the future held for Technigro.

“What we have been able to achieve in the past 25 years is amazing and I would love to see what we can do over the next 25 years.

“The Gold Coast is the best place, I think, to do business hands down and to be honest, in the business world, that is a well-kept secret.”

Longhurst received a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 500 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“I have great happiness when I think about all of the wonderful people who have worked with me over the years and the many thousands of them over the period, especially at Dreamworld,” he says.

“I am very honoured to receive this – thankyou all very much.”

A low-key appearance from new Jupiters Hotel and Casino managing director Aaron Gomes, who dropped into the ballroom for about half an hour, underlined the significance of the night.

Category winners for the 2012 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards: Technigro, Family Business; PWR Performance Products, Manufacturing and Construction; One Global Logistics, Emerging Business; Bloomtools, Knowledge Management and IT; Timezone Funtasia, Tourism, Hospitality and Events prize; V2i, Mayor's Innovation Award; RST Dust Earth Water Solutions, Environmental Sustainability trophy; Usher and Son, Bob Scott Memorial Award.