Pride of Premises Awards 2024

Kildare County Council’s Business Support Unit established its Shopfront Improvement, Accessibility and Age-Friendly Grant and Retail Window Grant to support retail excellence in appearance and accessibility. Smart shop fronts make a town feel more prosperous, improve its image and contribute towards a stronger sense of identity.

In March 2024, KCC will host its Pride of Premises Awards at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge as part of our Local Enterprise Week events programme to recognise the efforts of businesses across the county who have availed of these support streams.

We are inviting businesses to apply under the following categories (you can apply for multiple):

• Shop Front Improvement (i.e. the 50% funded grant)
• Shop Front Improvement, Universal Accessibility and Age-Friendly (i.e. the 75% funded grant)
• Retail Window Grant (i.e. the 80% funded grant)

The key areas that applicants will address are:

• Clean, well-presented - e.g. no graffiti, clean floors, windows, signage, etc)
• Design consideration of signage and associated frontage - signs should be simple and easy to understand, look attractive and be made from durable, high-quality materials.
• Public domain – improving the appearance of the public area surrounding the business (e.g. footpaths, associated street furniture, etc)
• Well-presented window display - not too much clutter e.g. stickers, well-spaced posters, no unsightly fixtures and fittings, windows should be clean and free of any residue from old stickers, old posters and stickers or those in bad condition should be removed etc. Posters should only be used for temporary signage)
• Accessibility
• Entrance – inviting, clean and attractive
• Over and above - e.g. demonstrate collaborative work to improve business environment initiatives, planting, community involvement, etc.

The competition is open to successful recipients of grant schemes. The following criteria apply to applicants:

• Must have received grant support from Kildare County Council in 2023
• Works must be completed and funds must be fully drawn down when making an application.
• Applicants must submit a ‘before’ and ‘after’ photograph (works must be completed).
• Applicants must submit an overview of their approach to updating their premises
• The closing date for entries is Friday, 16th February.
• All applicants will be reviewed by an independent judging panel and may require site visits to the premises. Judging will take place end-February.
• The award ceremony will take place at the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge; date: Tuesday, 5 March from 6pm.