Bob Kerr has been a business coach since 1995 and is now regarded as a pioneer of the industry in Australia.

An achievement he takes greatest pride in was working with the people of Guyra as the town's business coach after the meat works closed.

Mr Kerr harnessed the small-town spirit and helped Guyra to forge new directions and employment opportunities for itself, including a shearing museum and a $12million transport project.

Mr Kerr was named Business Coach of the Year by internationally renowned business coaching specialists Business Thinking Systems.

"The award is well deserved, Bob is one of the pioneers in the coaching industry and has made a valuable contribution to the repository of knowledge of coaching methodologies,” Business Thinking Systems Chief Executive Officer John Vamos said.

"Not only have his clients benefited from that knowledge but so too many of his colleagues in the field.”

Mr Vamos said business coaching had mushroomed over the last few years and with little regulation in the industry it can be difficult to separate the good from the average. He said the awards were a way of identifying the most outstanding Business Thinking Systems coach in the country.

Mr Kerr said he was humbled by the award.

"I'm obviously very pleased - it's recognition by my peers that I am achieving the outcomes my clients are after, which is what it's all about,” Mr Kerr said.

"There is nothing better than seeing the reaction of my clients when they achieve substantially more than they thought possible, and that was highlighted when late last year I was called back to Guyra to do a second business plan for the town.

"The Business Thinking Systems approach is outstanding and I am very proud to be a part of the network and to be honoured as the coach of the year.”

Mr Kerr joined Business Thinking Systems in 1995 after experiencing the approach as a client. Impressed with the methodology and results, he left behind his financial services career and plunged into coaching.

He holds a Diploma in Financial Planning from Deakin University and has performed more than 100 business planning workshops with clients in the accounting, manufacturing and service areas.