Peer mentoring organisation, The Executive Connection, recognised as “winning way” by Telstra Australian Business of the Year award winner

APTS took the top prize at the 19^th annual Telstra Business Awards, which recognise the best entrepreneurs and innovators in small and medium businesses across the country.

“We couldn’t have done it unless I worked hard on myself,” said Paul Newbound, CEO of APTS. “We’ve got a business coach, I’ve joined a TEC (The Executive Connection) group to help me grow as a leader – it’s stuff to make you stretch.”

Paul is part of peer mentoring and coaching membership organisation The Executive Connection (TEC), which provides a confidential forum for high-achieving business leaders to gain the support needed to give their business the edge in a competitive market.

Members participate in ongoing peer think-tanks, one-to-one business coaching sessions and regular speaker workshops to harness the knowledge and experience of their TEC group tooutperform their competitors.

TEC member companies won 8 awards at this year’s Telstra Business Awards. APTS was up against fellow TEC member Beerenberg Farm, who won the Telstra South Australia Business of the Year Award earlier this year, making it three years straight that TEC member companies won the overall SA award.

“Surround yourself by people who inspire you. You’ve always got to be striving to be better,” said Paul Newbound.

TEC provides the skills, the environment and the opportunity for its members, leaders of medium-size Australian enterprises, to leverage their own skills and build their confidence.

For more information about his Telstra Australian Business of the Year award, read Paul Newbound’s inspiring story in Smart Business Ideas magazine: http://smarter.telstrabusiness.com/features/meet-the-winners-australian-pressure-testing-services.htm