11th June 2015
Two female-led businesses were among the winners at the 18th Annual National Enterprise Awards, organised by the Local Enterprise Offices and announced this evening by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D. (June 11th 2015).
Kilkenny company wins Overall Title at National Enterprise Awards, presented by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D.
Two female-led businesses were among the winners at the 18th Annual National Enterprise Awards, organised by the Local Enterprise Offices and announced this evening by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D. (June 11th 2015).
MyBio in Kilkenny, founded by Linda Nolan in 2009 to supply research products to companies in the Life Sciences industry, was crowned Overall Winners. Anne Behan, founder of the Áine Knitwear brand in Clare took the design award, marking Irish Design 2015 (ID2015).
It was a good year for Ireland’s construction and property sectors, with Vision Built in Galway winning the export award (light steel gauge manufacturing), the Property Button in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown clinching the start-up category (utility transfer management) and Gannon Eco in Westmeath taking the innovation prize (reprocessing waste into raw materials).
All five winners were among the 24,000 small businesses supported by the network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices last year. The National Enterprise Awards were set-up to celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s micro-enterprise sector and previous winners have included Irish Yogurts from West Cork, Hot Irishman Irish Coffee (Walsh Whiskey Distillery) from Carlow and DesignPro from Limerick.
Congratulating this year’s winners, Minister Richard Bruton T.D. said: “Small business, like the winners and finalists here at the National Enterprise Awards, are the driving force behind Ireland’s economic growth, and we must recognise and celebrate their achievements. Crucially, if we are to keep creating the jobs we need, then we must support more entrepreneurs to start and grow local businesses. That is why we have placed small businesses right at the centre of our Action Plan for Jobs, and put in place new measures like establishing a new system of easily-accessible supports through the Local Enterprise Offices''.
Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, said that the awards were a celebration of Ireland’s enterprise stories. He said: “These awards showcase local business heroes on a national stage. The Local Enterprise Offices are there to help identify and support the heroes in our society, who take the brave step of starting and developing their own enterprises.”
Prizes include a cash prize of €5,000 for the Overall Winner, €1,000 for the four Category Winners in addition to specially-commissioned trophies.
Three other finalists made it through to this year’s National Enterprise Awards Final: Glendalough Distillery (supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow), Elemex (supported by Local Enterprise Office Louth) and Kinnegar Brewing (supported by Local Enterprise Office Donegal).
Adrienne Rodgers, Chair of the organising committee with the Local Enterprise Offices said: “Small business owners are the risk-takers, the innovators and the job creators that form a key part of the enterprise ecosystem here in Ireland. They have all demonstrated true grit and determination, choosing not just to survive but to grow and establish their businesses even further.”
Further details about the supports available to start-ups and small businesses are available through www.localenterprise.ie
2015 National Enterprise Awards, organised by the Local Enterprise Offices
Overall Winner: MyBio, supported by the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny
Design Award / Irish Design 2015 (ID2015): Áine Knitwear, supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare
Export: Vision Built Manufacturing, supported by Local Enterprise Office Galway
Start-Up: Property Button (Property Channel), supported by Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
Innovation: Gannon Eco, supported by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath
ENDS
For all media queries around the National Enterprise Awards, please contact Engage Ireland/MD Media: Sarah Bohan, Tel: 087 65 39936/ office @engageireland.com
Photography Note: High res, reproduction-free images of the eight National Enterprise Award winners will be available through Photocall Ireland on the evening of 11.06.15.
Interview opportunities are available with winners and finalists, along with representatives of the Local Enterprise Offices
The National Enterprise Awards are organised by the Local Enterprise Offices and were previously organised by the County and City Enterprise Boards (dissolved in April 2014 and replaced with the network of Local Enterprise Offices).
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Event: National Enterprise Awards at Royal Hospital Kilmainham, organised by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices
Special Guest: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D.
(www.localenterprise.ie)
Facts and Figures
In 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices collectively supported over 24,000 small business owners, entrepreneurs and managers, through various training programmes, mentoring services, networks, web-related grants and financial assistance. Through the LEOs, 7,305 jobs were created during 2014 in gross terms (4,012 extra jobs in net terms).
The Local Enterprise Office is the First Stop Shop for anyone seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland. The Local Enterprise Offices, which are part of the Local Authorities Network, provide advice, information and support to those starting up or growing a business.
NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS (#NEAwards15): THE WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER
KILKENNY: MyBio.Since it was established by Linda Nolan in 2009, My Bio has developed into the country’s most proactive supplier of research products, technologies and knowledge to the Scientific Research Industry. The company is now the exclusive supplier of many of the world’s leading bio-science reagents to the Irish market. MyBio clients are Life Scientists based in laboratories across various sectors including Academia, Government, Biotech, Diagnostics, Forensics and Pharmaceutical companies.
Promoter: Linda Nolan E: l.nolan@mybio.ie W: mybio.ie
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny)
DESIGN AWARD: IRISH DESIGN 2015 (ID2015)
CLARE: Áine Knitwear (McConnell Woollen Mills T/A)was set up in 2000 by Anne
Behan and is a fully-indigenous knitwear design and manufacturing business. The designs are unique and are a fusion of modern technologies and traditional Irish hand craft. Áine supplies over 100 shops in Ireland with exports equating to 66% of her business. Promoter: Anne Behan E: anne@aineknitwear.com W: aine.ie
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare)
START-UP:
DÚN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN, DUBLIN: Property Channel/Property Button is a hailo-model for the property sector. It automates all tasks that letting agents and estate agents have to do, when letting, buying or selling a property.
Primarily, they manage the transfer of utilities from a landlord to a tenant (and vice versa) or from a seller to a buyer. This includes the management of electricity, gas, TV, phone, broadband, waste, house moving kits and insurance transfers.
Promoters: Jim Urell and Patrick O’Farrell E: jim@propertychannel.ie W: propertychannel.ie
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown)
EXPORT:
GALWAY: Vision-Builtdesigns, manufactures and installs LGSF (light gauge steel frames) structures,
compliant with building requirements in the UK and Ireland. Vision-Built provides full design advice and accurate estimation, minimising project risk, improved quality and speedy construction for all types of residential and commercial projects. Recently completed project: 80 bed hotel, constructed in just four weeks.
Promoter: Gerard McCarthy E: gm@vision-built.com W: vision-built.com
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Galway)
INNOVATION:
WESTMEATH: Gannon Eco are solution providers for industrial waste streams. Gannon Eco reuse or remanufacture 100% of the material they receive at their site. Waste stream items are reprocessed at Gannon Eco and recycled as raw material for products directly marketed and sold by Gannon Eco. Promoter: Niall Gannon E: niall@ecorecycling.ie W: gannoneco.ie
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath)
OTHER FINALISTS:
LOUTH: Elemex Ltdmanufactures electric heating and temperature control equipment for industry, and offers a unique design and build service for individual client’s process heating applications. As an established brand, the company services all industry sectors, and has many years accumulated experience in providing innovative solutions to customer’s requirements. Promoter: Gerard Healy E: gerard@elemex.ie W: elemex.ie
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Louth)
WICKLOW: Glendalough Distillerymakes innovative spirits while staying true to the tradition and heritage of ancient distillation. Initially the business started with the first ever spirit, poitín, and since then have moved to whiskey and most recently the release of two seasonal, wild botanical gins.
Promoter: Barry Gallagher E: barryg@glendaloughdistillery.com W:glendaloughdistillery.com
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow)
DONEGAL: Kinnegar Brewing was established by Rick LeVert and Libby Carton in northeast Donegal. Kinnegar pairs brewing tradition with a contemporary sense of adventure to produce clean, crisp, full-flavoured beers. Their unfiltered, naturally carbonated range is a familiar sight in good pubs, restauraunts and independent off-licences island-wide. Promoters: Rick LeVert and Libby Carton E: info@kinnegarbrewing.ie W: kinnegarbrewing.ie
(Supported by Local Enterprise Office Donegal)
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