BYAC takes top honours

A LAVERTON company that has grown from two employees to 120 in just six years has won the WA Indigenous Business of the Year Award.

Burnna Yurral Aboriginal Corporation provides labour hire, training and other contact services to the mining industry of the north-eastern Goldfields. It is planning to expand into the eastern Goldfields region.

Managed by Rodney, Quinton, Patricia and Priscilla Tucker, the BYAC is 100 per cent owned by Aboriginal people. It was established to provide flexible, locally-based services to the mining companies and Aboriginal communities in the region.

In its early days the BYAC encountered some market resistance and strong competition but overcame these obstacles by gaining a sound understanding of potential clients’ needs and developing communication, marketing and business skills.

The company also won the indigenous businesses with six or more employees’ category.

It won prizes including $2,500 towards business development services and training in business planning.

Other category winners were Outback Electrical in Derby, Warlayirti Artists from Hall Creek, the Broome-based Goolarri Media Enterprises and the Warmun Art Centre.