The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has presented a Regional Award to Ualto Ltd. from Cavan at this year’s National Enterprise Awards, which took place in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 9th.
Established by Clinton Pratt and supported by Local Enterprise Office Cavan, Ualto Ltd. was set up in 2007 and provides a complete turnkey solution to clients, from design and manufacture to installation and commissioning. The company's key clients are in the food & beverage and pharmaceutical sector and they currently count Kepak, Aldi, Liffey Meats, Dawn Group, Glanbia and Gem Oils among their client base.
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.
The major category winners were:
- Applied Concepts from Offaly (Overall Winners),
- CarveOn from Kildare (Best Exporter),
- Global Sauces from Limerick (Best Start-Up)
- 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.”
Marcella Rudden, Acting Head of Enterprise from the Local Enterprise Office Cavan congratulated the local winners saying: “Ualto Ltd. 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 Ualto Ltd in Cavan
- Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim/Longford Region: Detta and Aoife McNiffe, McNiffe’s Boxty in Leitrim
- Galway/Mayo/Sligo Region: Donal Byrne, Big Red Barn Ltd in Mayo
- Clare/Limerick/Kerry/Tipperary Region: Fionan Murphy, Murphy Marine Services in Kerry
- Cork/Waterford Region: Clare Hughes, 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
See details of all Cavan County finalists in the National Enterprise Awards 2016 here
Pictured below: Marcella Rudden, Acting Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan; Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D.; Clinton and Ashlene Pratt of Ualto Ltd.; James Fox, Assistant Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan and Kieran Comerford, Head of Enterprise, LEO Carlow.
