‘People and Planet’ the focus for 2023’s Ballarat’s Best Ideas

The City of Ballarat is proud to work with local innovation start up, Suggest it, to bring Ballarat’s Best Ideas back for its third year running. 

The theme for 2023 is ‘People and Planet’, which reflects an emerging trend from last year’s entries that centred around issues of interest to Ballarat locals of the environment and supporting people including staff, customers, and the community. 

To date, Ballarat’s Best Ideas has made a significant impact on the city's businesses, with many of the positive ideas coming to life from previous campaigns.  

The competition is set to be even bigger and better in 2023, with a renewed focus on encouraging young people to share their innovative ideas and make a difference in their community. 

The three‐week competition will run from 28 April until 19 May 2023 and enable the Ballarat community to use Suggest it’s digital suggestion box to share ideas for participating businesses.  

At the end of the competition, three of the best ideas for improving a Ballarat business or organisation will be chosen by a panel of judges from the City of Ballarat, Federation University, Crazy Ideas College, Committee for Ballarat and an industry representative.  

The prizes for idea givers or “Gurus” this year include an Apple Watch, Trek bike, or Eco Escape voucher, each valued at more than $500. The winning business will receive $500 towards making the idea come to life, as well as support from Ballarat's Best Ideas’ partners. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was a thrill to be partnering with Suggest it for the third year of the competition.  

“Seeing so many great suggestions submitted to Suggest it during Ballarat’s Best Ideas 2022, which focused on helping people and our environment, was inspiring,” he said. 

“I urge the community to put forward their best ideas that relate to People and Planet, no matter how big or small, for a local business or organisation.” 

Ben Wearne, co-founder of Suggest it, said people instinctively want to share their ideas to help others and contribute to positive change. 

“We believe that every person in Ballarat has a great idea to help a local business or organisation, which can have an impact on the wider community too,” he said. 

“The Ballarat’s Best Ideas competition and the Suggest it platform gives people an easy and private way to share them.” 

Nick Clare, Co-founder of Suggest it, also expressed his pride in seeing the positive impact of Ballarat's Best Ideas in our community.  

“The Suggest it platform has played a crucial role in not only generating fresh and innovative ideas but also in promoting cooperation between businesses and the community to bring these ideas to life,” he said.  

“The team is thrilled to be directing their efforts towards making a meaningful impact on people and the planet and is eagerly anticipating the ideas that will come to fruition in 2023.” 

The City of Ballarat is a proud partner of the project to assist the community to support local businesses and to unearth some great ideas.  

This year’s competition was launched on Friday at Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat, an enterprise of local beekeepers Amanda Collins and Scott Denno that aims to help the community start their own beekeeping journey. 

For more information or to submit your best idea, visit Suggest it's website now.