Local Company Makes ‘Final Eight’ at National Enterprise Awards
Local Enterprise Offices confirm that small businesses from Galway, Donegal, Clare, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Louth and Dublin have all made ‘Final Eight’ on June 11th
The ‘Final Eight’ have been revealed by the Local Enterprise Offices ahead of the 18th National Enterprise Awards at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham later this month and a local company has made the final eight.
The eight finalists announced for the 2015 National Enterprise Awards, in alphabetical order, are:
Áine Knitwear (supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare)
Elemex (supported by Local Enterprise Office Louth)
Gannon Eco (supported by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath)
Glendalough Distillery (supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow)
Kinnegar Brewing (supported by Local Enterprise Office Donegal)
MyBio (supported by Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny)
Property Channel/Property Button (supported by Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin)
Vision Built Manufacturing (supported by Local Enterprise Office Galway)
Representing the construction and property sectors, Vision Built Manufacturing (Galway), design, manufacture and install building structures, Elemex from Louth, design heating systems and heating technology, Gannon Eco from Westmeath, reprocess waste materials to recycle them into raw materials and the Property Channel/Property Button in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, manage utility switchovers for letting agents.
The Irish drinks industry is also well-represented this year, with Glendalough Distillery from Wicklow (póitín, botanical gins and whiskey) and Kinnegar Brewing from Donegal (craft beers), both making the final eight. MyBio from Kilkenny, a supplier of research products for the scientific research industry and Aine Knitwear, a Clare-based knitwear design and manufacturing brand, have also been shortlisted this year.
Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Kieran Comerford, said: “In 2014, the network of Local Enterprise Offices supported over 24,000 entrepreneurs and start-ups all over the country, including all our finalists. These awards showcase the innovation , creativity and the development potential within Irish SMEs, all across Ireland. By highlighting all those business success stories, the National Enterprise Awards give recognition to Ireland’s small business heroes”
Previous winners of the competition have included Irish Yoghurts from West Cork, Hot Irish Whiskey (Walsh Whiskey) from Carlow and Innovate Telecoms and IT from Wexford. The most recent winners of the competition, Design Pro in Limerick, provide precision automation and machine build services. They went from employing 10 people in 2013, when they won the award, to employing 22 people today. Headed up by Paul Collins, the company is on track to double its workforce again over the next two years.
The overall winner of the €5,000 top prize is being announced by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on June 11th. Results and updates will be available through www.localenterprise.ie and by searching #NEAwards15 on social media.
