The award recognises excellence in companies in the NSW minerals industry or those that support the NSW minerals industry.

The awards will be issued in three categories – professional services, construction/engineering, and mining technology.

They form part of the NSWMC 2012 Industry Conference, “MiningYour Own Business – Benefits of Mining Beyond the Mining Sector”, an inaugural event designed to attract professionals from within the industry, chief executives, service providers and government representatives.

The conference will focus on the economic and commercial benefits of mining being felt beyond the mining sector itself, and how these can be shared by those not directly in the business of mining.

NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee said the mining industry in NSW was providing opportunities for businesses and should be applauded.

“Mining in NSW is not only delivering jobs, growth and prosperity to the state, increased mining activity in NSW is providing real flow-on opportunities for other industry sectors and businesses,” Galilee said.

“The Supplier of the Year Award … provides an excellent opportunity for businesses in the Hunter, Central West, New England North West, the Illawarra and even metropolitan Sydney to showcase their innovations and business services to the NSW mining sector.

“Mining cannot happen without significant input from many other sectors, including engineering, construction, environmental science, and other professional services, including accounting and the law. The industry is also a major user of hospitality and other services industries, and supplier businesses large and small.

“These are the type of businesses we want to see enter the Supplier of the Year Awards.”