25th May 2016
Over 30 small business success stories to be celebrated on June 9th
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D., has announced the Irish small businesses that have reached the National Enterprise Awards Final, which is organised by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).
Thousands of small businesses from across the country were supported by the LEOs last year and 32 of those businesses have now reached the National Final. Businesses in technology, manufacturing, food, on-line and energy dominate this year’s list.
The competition has a prize fund of €40,000 and was set up nearly two decades ago to celebrate the success of Ireland’s small businesses and micro-enterprises. There are representatives from every county in the final, which will take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Twelve awards will be presented including eight new regional trophies and the overall winner will receive €10,000 to invest in their business.
The announcement of finalists was made at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in Dublin by Minister Mitchell O’ Connor, accompanied by Kieran Comerford of the LEOs, Mark Christal of Enterprise Ireland, Paul Reid, Chair of the Local Government, Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Committee and last year’s Overall Winner, Linda Nolan of MyBio in Kilkenny.
Announcing the finalists, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “Getting to the final of the National Enterprise Awards is a great achievement. As part of my role as Minister I want to engage with small business, they are the backbone of Ireland and I want to ensure that I can put in place the right conditions for small businesses to thrive. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups and I want to encourage more people to start new businesses. The Local Enterprise Offices are at the core of this. They work towards embedding an enterprise culture at local level. These awards showcase the innovation, creativity and the development potential across the micro and small business sectors. By highlighting all these success stories, the National Enterprise Awards give well deserved recognition to Ireland’s small business champions. I wish all Finalists the very best of luck in the final.”
Kieran Comerford of the Local Enterprise Offices paid tribute to the small businesses involved in this year’s final, saying: “Small businesses, sole traders and start-ups are becoming the heroes of the economic recovery and we want to celebrate their successes and talents. The Local Enterprise Offices, through the Local Authorities Network, support thousands of small businesses in the community every year and the National Enterprise Awards are a way of recognising their remarkable achievements.”
Last year’s national winner was MyBio in Kilkenny, which supplies specialist products and technologies to the life sciences sector. In previous years, winners have included Irish Yoghurts, Innovate, Grouse Recording Studios, Simtech Aviation and Design Pro.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, June 9th. Updates will be available through www.localenterprise.ie and by following #NEAwards16 on social media.
ENDS
For all media enquiries, please contact Engage Ireland Sarah Bohan Tel: 01 427 8388 / 087 65 39936 / office (at) engageireland.com
Notes to the Editor:
The National Enterprise Awards, co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise will take place on June 9th 2016 at the Aviva Stadium in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Social Media: #NEAwards16
NATIONAL FINALISTS IN 2016 (supported by their Local Enterprise Office)
Carlow EquiRatings Ltd: Data analytics for the sport of Eventing
Cavan Ualto Ltd: Electrical process and plant automation
Clare Titan Logistics: Fourth party logistics
Cork City DARE Technology: Renewable energy technology
Cork West Hennessy Timber Group: Timber manufacturer
Cork North Health & Safety Publications Ltd.: Publishing company
Cork South GoCambio: Travel and languages web-platform
Donegal GetBrain.fit: Brain training services
Dublin City Nobó: Dairy-free ice -cream alternative
Dublin Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown ClearChoice: Software for financial brokers
Dublin Fingal InvizBox: Secure digital services
Dublin South Wyldsson: Health foods producer
Galway N. Barrett Engineering Ltd.: Animal handling equipment
Kerry Murphy Marine Services: Boat-builders and designers
Kildare CarveOn: Manufacturer of lifestyle accessories
Kilkenny Goatsbridge Fish Processors Ltd: Trout fish processing
Laois Twiznight Ltd.: Digital media technology
Leitrim McNiffe’s Boxty Bakery: Traditional Irish food producer
Limerick Global Sauces: Sauce manufacturing for food sector and retail
Longford ARK Energy: Technology for the energy sector
Louth Sing Li Foods: Curry sauces for retail and wholesale
Mayo Big Red Barn: Portable structure manufacturer and events
Meath TouchHits: Digital touchscreen jukebox manufacturer
Monaghan Cloud 10 Beauty: Online shop for beauty products
Offaly Applied Concepts Limited: Manufacturer of abrasive blast machines
Roscommon Roschem Products Ltd.: Cleaning detergents manufacturer
Sligo L.C. Seating Ltd.: Custom-made mobility seating
Tipperary Savvy Kitchens: Bespoke kitchens
Waterford CF Pharma Ireland Ltd.: Pharmaceutical company
Westmeath Scantech Geoscience Ltd.: GPR surveys for engineering sectors
Wexford Hentech Fabrication Ltd.: Mild steel fabrication
Wicklow Showoff: Software and app development
Award Categories – National Enterprise Awards 2016
- Overall Winner, National Enterprise Awards 2016 (Cash Prize for business: €10,000)
- Best Export Business(Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Best Start Up Business (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Innovation Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Eight Regional Winners (Cash Prize for business: €2,000 each)
- Regions:
- Dublin City, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown and South Dublin
- Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath
- Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny
- Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan
- Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford
- Galway, Mayo and Roscommon
- Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary
- Cork City, South Cork, Cork North & West and Waterford
Local Enterprise Offices
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are now the ‘first-stop-shop’ State support service for micro and small businesses in each local area. The LEOs provide advice and a signposting service to other State supports and services to anyone who wishes to start or expand a business. The LEOs also provide financial assistance for projects that meet certain criteria in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector as well as soft supports such as training and mentoring.
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