APPLICATION CALL – NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2020

In 2019 Kildare-based company Pestle & Mortar, under the directorship of Sonia Deasy, was the overall winner in the National Enterprise Awards. Kildare’s Terra NutriTech, led by Padraig Hennessey, achieved the same in 2018.

In 2020 can you?

With an award of over €10,000 for the winning company, LEO Kildare is searching for our county’s most ambitious, innovative and globally recognised Micro Enterprise.

***CLOSING DATE 12 NOON, WEDNESDAY 12^TH FEBRUARY 2020***

Submission of application form, business plan and financial statements to localenterprise@kildarecoco.ie

 Application form at bottom of page

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must be current clients of the LEOs or transferred to Enterprise Ireland within the last 12 months (i.e. after 31st December 2018).

All businesses must be involved in internationally traded services or manufacturing and have qualified for one or more of the following:

• Measure 1 Financial Support
• LEO Innovation Investment Fund (LIIF) Support
• IBYE Winners
• TAME Support
• Completed a LEAN programme

 All entries must employ ten or less employees employed on a full-time equivalent basis (part-time staff are those contracted less than 30 hours per week. A part-time employee is calculated as 0.5 full-time equivalent) as at 31/12/2018, with the exception of LEAN graduates who may have in excess of 10 employees.

• Previous finalists are eligible to enter.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Completed and signed application form together with a business plan and most recent financial statements must be submitted for adjudication.

Applicants must demonstrate the following through their application:

• Significant market traction
• A strong management team
• Export capability/potential
• Potential to scale
• Product or service innovation and
• Strong sales / profitability

AWARD:

The County finalist who will represent Kildare at the National Enterprise Awards will receive an award of €2,500 into their business.

Together with significant national publicity, at the National Finals the Overall Winner will receive €10,000 with the following additional award categories:

• The Best Export Business (to receive €5,000)
• Future Focus Award (to receive €5,000)
• Innovation Award (to receive €5,000)
• 8 Runners Up (to receive €2,000 each)

TIMELINE:

COUNTY PROCESS:

12 Feb                     Submission of NEA applications, business plan and financial statements

                                Submission via localenterprise@kildarecoco.ie

                                Subject line to read NEA Application – Company Name

                                DEADLINE for receipt of completed applications of 12noon

24-28 Feb                Finalists to be available for interview

05 Mar                     Kildare Winner Announced

                                Owner Manager Development Lunch with Blaise Brosnan 12pm - 2pm, Osprey Hotel, Naas

NATIONAL FINALS:

04 Apr                      Submission of final application from all county finalists

29 Apr – 7 May         National adjudication takes place                             

                                  Individual pitch dates tbc

28 May                      National Enterprise Awards

                                  Black Tie Gala Dinner 5pm, Mansion House, Dublin

QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions relating to the awards, eligibility or in making an application please contact the LEO team on 045 980 838.