KILKENNY BUSINESS SET FOR NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS FINAL

A manufacturing company from County Kilkenny are set to compete with the country’s best small businesses as one of the Finalists for the National Enterprise Award taking place next week.  Hi Tec Medicare will represent Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny at the prestigious awards that take place on Thursday 22^nd May in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.

Hi Tec Medicare, based in Clogh, Castlecomer is a growing business that designs, manufactures and delivers innovative, tailor-made orthopaedic chairs and accessories to the healthcare market and private clients. They offer an expanding range of world-class orthopaedic chairs featuring a highly innovative plastic welded seam which brings infection control to new levels.

Since their inception the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny has supported their incremental growth in the form of both financial grant assistance and soft supports.  The company has been approved start-up and business expansion grants towards the purchase of capital equipment and salary costs contributions towards recruitment of new employees. The company has also availed of supports such as mentoring and training. They have undertaken initiatives such as Lean for Business along with Green for Business which has led to the implementation of LEAN manufacturing process improvements and reduced waste. This family run business has become well established and today has a workforce of 12, including fulltime and part-time staff.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Michael McCarthy congratulated John and Catherine Doyle and the team in Hi Tec Medicare on their achievements to date and wished them every success in the final. He added “These Awards recognise the achievements of small businesses and recognise their importance in our local communities”. 

This is the 25^th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise said “The National Enterprise Awards serve to highlight the very best businesses that the Local Enterprise Offices are working with across the country. The diversity of sectors and innovation shown again this year is outstanding and the winners will no doubt produce businesses destined for international success”. She added “These businesses have excelled in their areas and have the potential to follow in the footsteps of previous winners to become successful global companies”.

The Finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.

The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland. They work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie

Photo Caption, pictured right to left:

Katie, John & Catherine Doyle Hi-Tec Medicare National Enterprise Awards Finalist representing Kilkenny with Cathaoirleach Cllr.  Michael McCarthy.  

For all media queries, relating to this please contact:

Catherine Hennessy

Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Council

County Hall

John Street

Kilkenny

086-3886580