Pestle & Mortar are Kildare’s National Enterprise Award Winners for 2019

A Global skincare business from Kildare Town is this year’s winner of the County Kildare National Enterprise Award for 2019.

Pestle & Mortar took the top prize of €2,000 and will now represent Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office at the 21st National Enterprise Awards on Wednesday 29th May in the Mansion House in Dublin.

Founded just four years ago by Newbridge woman Sonia Deasy, the skincare line is the toast of the beauty world having racked up positive notices in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Allure and more.

Judging is taking place in April and May and Pestle & Mortar will be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €40,000 prize fund. The Mansion House in Dublin is the venue for the awards ceremony in May and categories this year include ‘Best Export Business,’ ‘Best Start Up Business’ and ‘Innovation,’ in addition to eight regional awards.

Speaking after the winners were announced Jacqui Mc Nabb , Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office (Kildare ) said: “Pestle & Mortar has already become a success story and the judges were particularly impressed by their exporting success . The National Enterprise Awards are a great barometer for what the Local Enterprise Offices are doing and every year the standard is getting better and better and we are delighted to have Pestle & Mortar representing us in Dublin in May.”

Speaking about the awards , Peter Carey , Chief Executive of Kildare County Council said “Pestle & Mortar represent the quality and innovation of indigenous Small and Medium Enterprises who operate in County Kildare and support thousands of jobs in our local economy” , Carey continued to say “SME’s are the backbone of the County Kildare eco-system and provides much needed employment in our rural communities. Awards provides them with a great opportunity to showcase their achievements to their peers and to the wider public” , Carey concluded by saying “we are delighted that Pestle & Mortar will represent us all at the National Final and we wish them well and promise our support in the coming months to make the most of this opportunity”.

All over the country, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices have been jointly running over 370 events aimed at start-ups, aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses in their area, to mark Local Enterprise Week.