judging

JUDGING PROCESS

Judging in each category is conducted by a panel comprising of industry professionals and related industry experts, all whom are impartial and bound by confidentiality agreements.

Garden Centre, Production & Propagation Awards

The written submission is a two step judging process. Entrants are requested to provide a written submission and then receive an onsite evaluation provided the submission has met the 60% benchmark. The written submission is evaluated by no less than two judges.  The scores of the two judges are averaged to achieve the score for the submission component.  This is 20% of their overall score however entrants must meet a benchmark of 60% in their submission to progress to onsite judging. 

At the conclusion of onsite judging, the two scores (submission and onsite) are collated to determine the state finalists and winner.  There can be only one State Winner. The State Winner progresses to the national finals where the score is made up of 100% of the national onsite visit.  National Onsite Judges have access to the written submission for reference and in order to confirm information provided in the submission.  Where two businesses are very close in score, National Judges may refer to the submission to help with their assessment of the business.

Community, Training, Marketing, Environment Awards

These are submission only categories.  Businesses submit a written submission for evaluation by no less than two judges.  The scores of the two judges are averaged to achieve the total score for the submission.  Entrants must meet a benchmark of 60% in their submission to be recognised as a State Finalist.  The State Winner is the business with the highest score in that State and the National Winner is the business with the highest score overall.

Supplier Award – NEW JUDGING PROCESS

Via the Awards Information Flyer voting panel and online voting forms, allied traders and suppliers are voted for by their customers.  At the close of the call for entries, businesses who have been nominated by their customers are invited to complete their entry by forwarding a written submission online. 
The customer vote makes up 40% of the total score for the business.  The online written submission will be judged by no less than two judges.  The scores of the two judges are averaged to achieve the score for the submission component and entrants must meet a submission benchmark of 60% to progress to the State finals.  The submission component is 60% of the overall score. 
The State Winner is the business with the highest score in that State and the National Winner is the business with the highest score overall. 

Hall of Fame - Eligibility

To be eligible for induction into the Nursery & Garden Industry Awards Hall of Fame a business must be a National Winner in the same category for three consecutive years.  Where category breakdowns or groupings are modified over time eligibility still applies.  Eligibility does not apply across category groupings. 

Example 1 – Eligible business
A business who wins a national production nursery award in Year 1 is required to through changes to the category structure to enter the propagation category in Year 2.  If they win this category, they remain eligible for Hall of Fame should they participate and win nationally in Year 3.  These two categories are of the same grouping and/or are subject to similar judging process.

Example 2 – Non-eligible business
A business who wins a national community award in Year 1, wins a national garden centre category in Year 2.  This business is not eligible as the categories are not of the same grouping and/or subject to similar judging process.