Vero has revealed the finalists for this year’s RM Advancer Awards, including the first SME nominees in a new enterprise category.

The awards recognise customers and brokers that demonstrate innovative and effective risk-management plans.

“Businesses of all shapes and sizes are increasingly recognising the importance of making risk management a fundamental part of their day-to-day operations,” Suncorp Group EGM Consumer and Commercial, Portfolio and Products Darren O’Connell said.

“For this reason, it’s great to see the first crop of SMEs join the RM Advancer finalists this year.

“These customers and their brokers are employing some truly innovative methods to mitigate their risks.”

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in Melbourne on October 27.

Winners will have a choice of receiving 200,000 Qantas Aquire points or risk management consulting hours from Vero’s risk engineering professionals.

The categories and finalists are:

• Property: Ansell, Unitywater and Flinders Clinical Trial Services
• Liability: The Reject Shop, The Salvation Army (Eastern), Mitre 10 and Jemena
• Motor: City of Blacktown Council, Unitywater and UnitingCare Queensland
• Enterprise: The Armidale School, TTi Group and ATF Services.