THE City of Whittlesea celebrated everything business on Thursday night as council held its Business Awards.
Civil construction company Eifers rose above the competition in 2026 after finishing as a finalist in 2025, claiming two awards, including the prestigious Business of the Year.
The Epping-based company claimed the Innovation and Enterprise Award, while also getting the top honour of the night, highlighting its growth from a three-person operation to an industry leader through sustainability, creative problem-solving and cutting-edge technology.
In the 2025-26 financial year, Eifers delivered a circular construction project at Melbourne Airport, a project which used recycled materials. The stockpiled airside materials used in the project were repurposed into a foam bitumen base and Greenpave asphalt, allowing it to win the Innovation and Enterprise Award, as well as the Business of the Year award.
The Customer Service Award was won by the Whittlesea Physiotherapy and Clinical Pilates clinic.
Serving the community since 2005, the Whittlesea-based clinic is recommended by the Northern Football Netball League to help people who have had concussion, trusted by clubs, schools and families, and delivering programs for all ages.
Its outstanding client satisfaction scores and strong staff retention saw it recognised with the award.
Thomastown-based manufacturer Bygen was the winner of the Environment and Sustainability Award, utilising its manufacturing ability to produce sustainable, high-performance activated carbon through patented low-temperation activation technology.
It is used to help create applications, including water purification, PFAS removal, food and beverage processing, air treatment, gold recovery and gas treatment while also using minimal emissions.
Bygen is now expanding internationally, with expansion in the United States and Malaysia.
Repurpose It was the winner of the Community Contribution Award.
It is an industry leader in producing repurposed materials, which helps it transform recovered resources into construction products, including sand and crushed concrete.
Repurpose It utilises closed-loop resource recovery to eliminate waste and pollution and diverts millions of tonnes from landfill by linking waste disposal with material supply.
The Diversity and Inclusion Award was won by All Ability Dental, a business which provides specialist care for adults and young people with complex needs, including disability, frailty and chronic health conditions.
All Ability Dental’s patients include individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, patients with acquired brain injuries and those who need mental health support for anxiety, PTSD and dental phobia, providing peace of mind for patient wellbeing.
Finally, the Small Business Award was won by Ladies That Lift – an all-female appointment-based personal training studio.
Ladies That Lift members connect through a private community, and helps provide a good, shared experience through events, including International Women’s Day celebrations, deadlifting parties, powerlifting competitions and photoshoots.
Coaches also provide ongoing support beyond sessions, injury support and lifestyle changes, while also sharing education through social media.
City of Whittlesea Mayor Councillor Lawrie Cox congratulated the winners of the awards.
“Congratulations to all the award winners and finalists. We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our remarkable business community,” he said.
“This year’s nominees reflect the diversity, dedication, strength, and resilience of businesses across the City of Whittlesea that help power our local economy and drive our municipality forward. Your commitment to quality has raised the bar.”