DESIGNING SOLUTIONS TO IRELAND’S BUSINESS CHALLENGES

1. Launch of Irish Business Design Challenge small

Immense challenges also bring opportunities. Opportunities to think differently, to innovate and to find solutions,” explains Thomas McEvoy, Head of Enterprise with Louth County Council. “2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, but there has been an amazing response from Ireland’s SMEs.

 “We have seen this at first hand here in Louth” he continues. “Small local businesses are close to customers, agile and creative. They are quick to respond to challenges, change their systems and develop new solutions. This has happened the length and breadth of the county. Now is the time to showcase that ingenuity in The Irish Business Design Challenge.

 The Irish Business Design Challenge invites Irish businesses of all sectors to share the challenges they are experiencing as a result of COVID-19 and the solutions they have designed to resolve them. The aim of the competition is to recognise resilience and innovation in these challenging times.

 An initiative of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, the competition is delivered in partnership with the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland. A prize fund of €50,000 will be divided over 3 categories, with a prize of €15,000 for each of the category winners. The categories are: Micro (1-10 employees), Small (11-50 employees) and Medium (51-250 employees). 

Author and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald will chair a panel of experts for the judging process. There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to vote for their “Hero Business”.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 28th October. Visit www.dcci.ie for details and to enter.

Thomas concludes “We encourage local businesses who have developed or redesigned their products or services to meet the 2020 challenges to enter this competition. It’s a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity and innovation of Louth businesses to the whole country through The Irish Business Design Challenge.