Walking around Melbourne it is hard not to notice the licence plates on cars proudly disclaiming the Kennett era slogan: Victoria on the move.

Judging by the 2012 Telstra Victorian Business Awards this is a state that is definitely on the move.

That’s definitely the case for the 2012 Victorian HTC Start-Up winner KeepCup. Their whole business is about providing an environmentally responsible way to keep you on the move with your coffee. And the brilliant thing is KeepCup has grand plans to start a movement. “We want to be the brand that is recognised for kick-starting the change in behaviour not just here in Australia but right across the world,” Abigail Forsyth, KeepCup CEO said when accepting their award.

Firestarter, the 2012 Victorian News Limited Micro Business winner also reflected on this theme of moving. “We’ve really got to put the emphasis on small business, micro business, on these medium size businesses that employ so many people across Australia and drive our economy,” Managing Director Arron Wood said at the Awards.

The 2012 Victorian Commonwealth Bank Medium Business Award winner, Kiandra IT, has a great story to tell about moving with the times. Started by three high school friends 17 years ago in the basement of Martin Cooperwaite’s parent’s home, the business has moved on to bigger and better things, growing to more than 50 employees across two states. For Cameron Brookes, Managing Director of Kiandra IT, he said the passion is what drove them. “We love the ability for IT to have a positive impact on business,” Cameron said when he accepted the Award.

If there is a small business that knows about moving it could well be Mobius Institute, winner of the 2012 Victorian Telstra Regional Award. In 1999, Jason Tranter, Managing Director, established the business which provides training in vibration analysis of machines. Jason has been able to take his training services now to more than 50 countries.

Of course with Victoria being the state on the move, then nothing could be more fitting than a business that is focused on products that move people.

The team at BikeExchange.com.au not only picked up the 2012 Victorian MYOB Small Business Award but was also named the 2012 Telstra Victorian Business of the Year. Best mates since they were six, Jason Wyatt and Sam Salter had an idea after an outing to the races in Melbourne.

“We wanted BikeExchange to be the solution for anybody who was looking to sell or buy a bike or bike part,” Jason said at the Awards. “And now since launching we have 50,000 items for sale from over 400 retailers around the country as well as thousands of private monthly advertisers.”

Recently the team at BikeExchange had one million visitors to their website in a month and this really reflects the move they are making with their audience.

So there you have it, Victoria still seems to be a place on the move if the enterprising winners of the Telstra Victorian Business Awards are anything to judge by.

And if you need to be convinced any more as to how much on the move they really are in this state, the following from Jason really sums it up: “Probably no other city but Melbourne would appreciate the following stat. More people ride bikes than play the AFL, NRL and the ARU put together.”

Clearly still on the move.

Congratulations to all the entrants, finalists and winners of the 2012 Telstra Victorian Business Awards.

To have a look at all the winner’s speeches from all the state and territory Awards events, have a peek at the winners at the Telstra Awards YouTube® site.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, the winner of the 2012 Telstra Australian Business of the Year will be announced on the evening of 29 August 2012.

Related Links:

• Telstra Business Awards