In a virtual ceremony, that was dominated by businesses from Tamworth and Gunnedah, Armidale human resources solutions business, Pinnacle People Solutions, took home the Excellence in Small Business award, and Uralla's Meralli Solar won Excellence in Innovation.

Meralli Solar has made a habit of collecting awards in recent years, including picking up the innovation award at the Armidale awards two years ago.

A Gunnedah podiatrist's passionate journey to create the perfect waterproof work boot has led to her business, Crawford Boots, being named the region's 2021 Business of the Year.

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Business NSW board director Warrick McLean said every business owner had shown incredible fighting spirit over the past 12 months and deserve to be recognised.

"This year we saw a record number of entrants with judges commenting on the high calibre of submissions from businesses and their people," he said.

"Most categories were tightly contested and it's a pity we could only award one winner for each category."

After Crawford Boots took out the top title, designer of the boots, Penny Crawford, said having worked as a podiatrist for three decades in regional NSW, the majority of her clients were miners with one main complaint - 'my boots don't fit'.

"The boots were built out of 30 years of working as a podiatrist, seeing a need especially in harsh industries and eight years later, after lots of blood, sweat and tears, we're here," she said.

"We're going really well and these awards, well that's just the icing on the cake."

Also taking out the Outstanding Business Leader and Excellence in Micro Business award, Ms Crawford said she was "humbled" to be up against such amazing businesses and people from across the region.

"I can't believe it, I'm lost for words which is a rare occasion for me," she said.

Gunnedah was well represented, with Glen Many from Many Engineering and Fabrication named the Outstanding Young Business Leader and Mannion Drilling winning the Excellence in Business award.

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Communications manager at Tamworth business Birth Beat, Mikala Ellis, was named the most Outstanding Employee, while Employer of Choice went to Tamworth's Moss Environmental.

The community spirit of Quirindi's Rotary Club also shone through, with the group named the Outstanding Community Organisation.

Excellence in Export was awarded to Tamworth-based horse nutrition business FeedXL and Walcha's PharmOnline was named Outstanding Start-Up.

The winning 11 businesses from New England North West will now compete at the 2021 State NSW Business Awards in November.

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