SW operator wins new award
Businessman Zane Jones, founder and director of Jones Mining Innovation Rental Division, added another accolade to his career when he took out the City of Perth Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award on May 7.
In March Mr Jones was named one of WA's 40 leading young business entrepreneurs at the Business News 40 under 40 Awards and last year, he won the South West Young Business Achiever of the Year, the Mining, Construction and Manufacturing Award and runner-up in the Micro Business Award at the South West Small Business Awards.
He started his plant machinery rental business from humble beginnings with his brother Luke in 2008, operating from a private house in Binningup with just three trucks.
The rental division has since expanded to a fleet of more than 70 in Bunbury, Port Headland and Midland.
Mr Jones has forged a partnership with an Indigenous company to provide training and employment for traditional owner groups in the mining industry and has set up a community sponsorship program.
He said it was an unexpected honour and a humbling experience to win the award.
"I was up against very high-profile entrepreneurs, mainly in the IT sector, and it was pretty awesome to beat them," he said.
"The recognition reassures me we are doing the best we can do and just going through the submission process was an opportunity to review the business from the outside and examine future directions.
"The questions were quite technical and provided some ideas how to further improve small things.
"With the drop of the iron ore price we are dealing with a testy market and have to be innovative in the way we do business."
Mr Jones is looking forward to a high tea with Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and a $7250 Curtin Growth Program scholarship which are part of his award.
The 2015 Entrepreneur and Innovator Awards were presented by Networking WA and sponsored by WAtoday.com.au, Curtin University, the City of Perth and Wrays. About 20 finalists contested four categories.
