Limerick Enterprise Awards winners announced
Colm Cussen, ABS Engineering Control Systems Ltd has been named as Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 in the Limerick Final of the National Enterprise Awards at a ceremony in the Limerick Strand Hotel today (Monday, 4th March 2019).
The Newcastle West based company, who design and install Building Management Systems for new and existing users, was one of five companies presented with awards by Cllr. James Collins, Mayor of Limerick City and County.
The competition is organised by Ireland's network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) to give recognition to the contribution of micro enterprises to the National Economy.
The Mayor congratulated ABS Engineering who also won the Best Manufacturing Company Category, and the other category winners Precision Utility mapping, Clarina (Best Service Business), Optima Training and Consulting Ltd, Castletroy (Best New Start up), Rockbarton Garden Centre, Bruff (Best Retail Business) and Dev House, Annacotty (Innovation Award) and wished ABS Engineering well as Limerick's representative in the Final of the National Enterprise Awards on 29th May 2019 in the Mansion House in Dublin. Past winner of the National competition include Paul Collins, DesignPro Ltd based in Rathkeale and Bespoke Sauce Ltd from Raheen.
Mayor Collins congratulated all of the applicants who entered the awards for their high standards and for their drive and commitment to make their businesses better.
"This awards scheme further illustrates that LEO Limerick is in the front line in delivering business growth and jobs in Limerick, providing direct support and pulling together all the players – agencies, the local authority and the private sector – to support everyone with a good business idea and strengthen the enterprise sector in Limerick," stated Mayor Collins.
Figures released today by the Local Enterprise Office Limerick reveal that 33 businesses, 5 Feasibility Studies (€36,000), 15 priming/start up business grants (€393,150) and 13 business expansions (€369,229), were approved for funding during 2018 giving a total grant approval of €798,379 for the year.
On the jobs front 365 new jobs were created in 2018 in 112 businesses supported by LEO Limerick resulting in an increase of 213 net jobs in the portfolio of companies supported by LEO Limerick, which now supports almost 2000 jobs in 300 small and micro businesses in the City and County.
In 2018 LEO Limerick delivered 88 training and development programmes including Networking, Seminars, Training, Start Your Own Business and Management Development.
128 individuals completed the Start Your Own Business Programme and in total, a record number of 1,313 people availed of the LEO programmes during 2018.
The recently launched 2019 Training and Development programme for local entrepreneurs has over 90 training courses on offer in 2019.
"Over 90% of all businesses in Limerick are micro-enterprises and the Limerick Local Enterprise Office plays a crucial role in supporting these entrepreneurs through the initial difficult years of business. I support the continued investment of public money in The Local Enterprise Office and the return we get from such investment is great as the LEO can continue to support small business and create jobs in the City and County," said Mayor Collins.
Speaking at the Awards event in Limerick today, Eamon Ryan Head of Enterprise with Limerick City and County Council said: "LEO, through its programme of support puts micro and small business at the heart of job creation locally. Part of this process is to provide local entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their business ideas to a wider audience. In doing so, LEO Limerick is contributing to the successes of our smaller indigenous businesses, both new and existing, which are central to the future economic development of this region."
Caroline Curley Director of Service representing Limerick City and County Council said “awards such as these give recognition to the individuals who are creating valuable jobs in Limerick and who are vital to the continued economic growth in the City and County. Limerick City and Council are committed to supporting all entrepreneurs who are contributing to the future development of Limerick”
LEO Limerick, which was set up in 2014, is part of the Economic Development Directorate of Limerick City and County Council and is based at 7/8 Patrick Street. Visit www.localenterprise.ie/Limerick.
