Terrace-based company Technicon Industries has made it through the second round in the Small Business B.C award program.
The company, which has offices in Kitimat and Prince Rupert as well, is on the top-ten list for both the Premier’s People’s Choice and the Best Apprentice Training award categories.
Nearly 600 businesses were nominated by the public as their favourite small business in B.C. Voting was opened to the public, with the highest votes ensuring ten companies making it to the semi-finals.
Technicon Industries president, and one of the owners, Andrew Contumelias, said the company was notified by Small Business B.C. that they had been nominated for the awards.
“It is really great to get recognition for what we do from the people that support us in the region,” said Contumelias. “We would like to thank all those who nominated our company and who have voted for us.”
This is the second year that Technicon has been nominated for the award - last year the company made it into the top five in the Best Apprentice Training category as well.
Contumelias said the recognition they have received for their apprenticeship program is proof that their philosophy works.
“We have noticed that when we are able to train employees ourselves we are able to mould them into what we would like them to be,” said Contumelias, who was also a carpenter apprentice when he started out.
“This program makes our employees more versatile and better journeymen.”
He said the company has seen the program bear fruit - “some of our most successful people in the longterm received training through the program”.
Technicon builds houses throughout the north of B.C. and requires a number of skills. They offer apprenticeships to gasfitters, plumbers, drywall installers, painters, carpenters, and even mechanics. The company next year celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Top ten finalists have to provide a panel of judges a more detailed application outlining why they think they deserve to win the award. These applications will be assessed to narrow down the competition to the top five finalists.
Companies that make it to the top five then have to present a pitch to judges early in February, to convince them why they should receive the award.
The winners of the Small Business B.C .Awards will be announced at a gala dinner in Vancouver on February 23.