Carlow Business Wins Regional Award
Local business wins Regional Award at this year’s National Enterprise Awards at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has presented a Regional Award to EquiRatings Ltd from Carlow at this year’s National Enterprise Awards.
Set-up by Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson and supported by Local Enterprise Office Carlow, the company was set up in 2015 and provides data analytics for the sport of Eventing. EquiRatings Ltd currently employ two staff on a full time basis.
With a total prize fund of €40,000 on offer through the Local Enterprise Offices, thirteen awards were presented in total at the black-tie event at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (on Thursday, June 9th) and the major category winners were: Applied Concepts from Offaly (Overall Winners), CarveOn from Kildare (Best Exporter), Global Sauces from Limerick (Best Start-Up) and Invizbox Ltd from Fingal in Dublin (Innovation Award).
Speaking at the awards, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D. said: "I am delighted to be here to witness first-hand the innovative entrepreneurs that Ireland has. Through the National Enterprise Awards, the success stories of Ireland's small businesses are showcased nationally and internationally by the Local Enterprise Offices. Small businesses, like finalists here at the National Enterprise Awards, are the backbone of the Irish economy and I want to ensure that I can put in place the right conditions for more small businesses to grow. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups and I want to encourage more people to start new businesses, with the help of their Local Enterprise Office. I want to congratulate all of this year's winners and I wish them the very best for the future, as they 'fly the flag' for Ireland's small businesses.”
The local company was nominated for the awards by the Local Enterprise Office Carlow, which has supported the company through business feasibility grants, training & development programmes and mentoring assistance. John Mulcahy, Enterprise Executive with the Local Enterprise Office congratulated the local winners, saying: “EquiRatings won this Regional Award in recognition of what they have achieved since setting up the business. With a growing client base, the company is well-placed to enjoy even more success in the years to come”.
Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices said: “For thousands of small companies like all the winners and finalists at the National Enterprise Awards, the Local Enterprise Offices through the Local Authorities Network have become a first stop shop for business. The National Enterprise Awards help to celebrate these companies’ achievements. As a business moves through the start-up phase and into the growth phase, their Local Enterprise Office is standing by, ready to provide whatever supports are needed to help that business grow and expand. ”
The full list of Regional Award winners were as follows:
Dublin Region: Brian and Rachel Nolan, Nobó in Dublin City Kildare/Laois/Offaly/Westmeath Region: Tom Davitt and Dr. Orla Dardis of Scantech Geoscience in Westmeath Wicklow/Wexford/Carlow/Kilkenny Region: Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson of EquiRatings in Carlow
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan/Meath Region: Clinton Pratt of M.D.,Ualto Ltd in Cavan Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim/Longford Region: Detta and Aoife McNiffe, McNiffe’s Boxty in Leitrim Galway/Mayo/Sligo Region: Donal Byrne, M.D., Big Red Barn Ltd in Mayo Clare/Limerick/Kerry/Tipperary Region: Fionan Murphy, M.D., Murphy Marine Services in Kerry Cork/Waterford Region: Clare Hughes, M.D.,CF Pharma Ireland Ltd in Waterford
Meanwhile, the first-ever ‘Peer Award’ was presented to Darren Hayes from Dare Technology in Cork City and was judged by all 32 finalists.
Further information on the supports available through the Local Enterprise Offices is available through www.localenterprise.ie
