Businesses invited to represent Carlow in the National Enterprise Awards
Carlow County Council – Local Enterprise Office is now accepting entries for the County Final of the ‘National Enterprise Awards 2024’ which take place on Wednesday 6th March 2024. The awards celebrate and honour the outstanding achievements of local businesses across the county. Business owners are invited to submit their applications before the deadline of 5th February 2024.
To mark the 10th year of the Local Enterprise Office, the awards this year will be held in Local Enterprise Week and will recognise clients who participated in a variety of projects and programmes.
Eligibility for participation in the awards requires that businesses have fewer than 50 employees and have received direct support from Local Enterprise Office Carlow. The 2024 categories are County Carlow - Green for Business Award, County Carlow E-Commerce Award, County Carlow – Best Startup/Newcomer, County Carlow - Lean for Business Award, Business & Economic Growth Through European Funding Opportunities, County Carlow – Digitalisation Award, Carlow Festival Award and finally the National Enterprise Awards – Carlow Enterprise of the Year.
The awards will be presented on 6th March 2024 at lunch function from 12noon-2pm in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel.
The overall winner of ‘Carlow Enterprise of the Year’ will represent Carlow at the National Enterprise Awards to be held in May. The National Enterprise Awards are the most prestigious and well-known entrepreneurial showcase in Ireland. They celebrate and reward the outstanding achievements of micro-enterprises across the country.
Each year the awards recognise and showcase businesses that excel in a variety of activities including innovation, export sales, job creation and sustainability.
The National Enterprise Awards are attended by a high-profile audience of business leaders, government officials, and media representatives. The awards ceremony is a major event on the Irish business calendar and it provides a platform for enterprises to showcase their success and gain national recognition.
The Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr. Andrea Dalton, said: "Local businesses have consistently made Carlow proud with their outstanding performances at the National Enterprise Awards. I would encourage all eligible businesses to enter and seek the opportunity to represent themselves and their county at these prestigious national awards."
Séamus Doran, Assistant Head of Economic Development & Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office added: "The National Enterprise Awards provide an exceptional opportunity for aspiring businesses to gain recognition and showcase their capabilities to a nationwide audience. The Local Enterprise Office will support the Carlow finalist to excel in the competition and produce a compelling application that reflects their potential.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 5th February 2024. Expressions of Interest can be submitted at https://consult.carlow.ie/en/content/county-final-national-enterprise-awards-2024-expression-interest-application-form
For further information contact Séamus Doran on 086-4109079 or sdoran@carlowcoco.ie
Category: County Carlow – Green for Business Award
Description: The Green for Business Award recognises the business which has integrated sustainability into their core business strategies, prioritizing environmental stewardship as a driving force for their success. Four companies will be shortlisted and each receipt a certificate and the winner will be in receipt of a specially designed trophy.
Eligibility: Micro Businesses with less than 50 staff located in County Carlow who have completed a Green for Micro /Green for Business programme.
Category: County Carlow – E-Commerce Award
Description: The E-Commerce Award celebrates the business who has invested in developing their eCommerce capability, it acknowledges an exceptional award-winning website which not only sets itself apart from its competitors but also adds value to the end user and the company’s strategy to reach their target audience. Four companies will be shortlisted and each receipt a certificate and the winner will be in receipt of a specially designed trophy.
Eligibility: The Awards are open to recipients who have received a LEO Carlow Trading Online Voucher.
Category: County Carlow – Best Startup/Newcomer
Description: The "Best Newcomer/Startup" award recognises a promising and innovative business that has made a significant impact in a relatively short period who have completed a Start Your Own Business Programme. This category is designed to celebrate businesses that have demonstrated exceptional growth, creativity, and potential within their respective industries. Four companies will be shortlisted and each receipt a certificate and the winner will be in receipt of a specially designed trophy.
Eligibility: Businesses located in County Carlow within the first 2 years of business.
County Carlow - Lean for Business Award
Description: Recognising the business who has transformed their operations for enhanced efficiency, productivity, and overall business value through the successful implementation of Lean principles and practices.
Eligibility: Business located in County Carlow who have completed a Lean for Micro programme.
Scoring: Applicants will be scored based on their engagement with the Lean for Business programme, their implementation in their business of the lean principles gained on the programme and the impact this implementation has had on the operations of their business.
Category: County Carlow – Digitalisation Award
Description: Honouring the business which has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in embracing digital technologies to transform their business operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. The winner will receipt a specially designed trophy.
Eligibility: Business located in County Carlow who have completed a Digital Start programme
Scoring: Applicants will be scored based on their engagement with the Digital Start programme, their implementation in their business of the digitalisation principles gained on the programme and the impact this implementation has had on the operations of their business.
Category: Business & Economic Growth Through European Funding Opportunities
Description: Recognise the company's ability to identify and access diverse funding sources, demonstrating a forward-thinking and innovative approach to securing financial support then using that funding as a catalyst for sustainable growth and positive change. Also recognising their broader contributions to sustainability, positive societal impact, and exemplary corporate citizenship within realm of the European Union's values & objectives. Showcasing how their success in navigating European funding schemes has set a benchmark for others to follow.
Eligibility: Micro, small or medium business located in County Carlow who have availed of EU funding programmes or financial instruments (examples include Micro Finance Ireland & LEADER funding).
Category: Festival Award
Description: Open to any festival or event staged in Carlow County during 2020-2023. The best festival award recognizes the huge effort made by organizers to make an event happen. The winning festival/event will also have boosted tourism and attracted businesses to Carlow. This category will be decided by public vote.
Eligibility: Open to all Festival and Events that took place in County Carlow in 2020-2023.
National Enterprise Awards – Carlow Enterprise of the Year
Description: Recognizing the business who has achieved growth through engagement with state supports, setting new standards for innovation and growth in Carlow and who shows the most ambitious plans for future development.
Eligibility: Business located in County Carlow who are current clients of the Local Enterprise Office, have no more than 10 FTE employees on 31.12.2023, are manufacturing or offer an internationally traded service and have availed of a Measure 1 financial support from the Local Enterprise Office
Winners Prize: €2,000 prize and represent Carlow in the National Enterprise Awards 2024
Scoring: Applicants will be scored based on the criteria published for the National Enterprise Awards which will be made available to all shortlisted entrants before completing their application. Four shortlisted entrants will be provided with mentoring support to assist their application.
